On 24 April 2026, the Presidency of the International Criminal Court (ICC) constituted Trial Chamber III, which will be in charge of the case of The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Trial Chamber III is composed of Presiding Judge Joanna Korner, Judge Keebong Paek and Judge Nicolas Guillou.
Trial Chamber III will be in charge of the conduct of the trial in this case. The Chamber will hold status conferences, confer with the parties and participants in order to set the date of the trial and adopt the procedures necessary to facilitate the fair and expeditious conduct of the proceedings.
Decision notifying the election of the Presiding Judge
Background: Following a request by the Office of the Prosecutor, the warrant of arrest against Mr Duterte was issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I as "Secret" on 7 March 2025 and reclassified as "Public" on 11 March 2025. On 12 March 2025, Mr Duterte was surrendered to the ICC. The initial appearance of Mr Duterte took place on 14 March 2025. The confirmation of charges hearing took place from 23 to 27 February 2026 before Pre-Trial Chamber I, composed of Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc and Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera. Statements and submissions were presented by the Prosecution, the Defence and the Common Legal Representatives of the Victims. The hearing took place in the absence of the suspect following the Chamber granting Mr Duterte's request to waive his right to attend it. On 23 April 2026, Pre-Trial Chamber I unanimously confirmed all the charges comprised of three counts of crimes against humanity brought by the Prosecution against Mr Duterte and committed him to trial before a Trial Chamber.
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