When will the ICC decide on Duterte’s appeal and what's at stake

Dubai: A crucial ruling in the case against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte will be delivered on April 22, as the appeals chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) prepares to decide whether the tribunal has the authority to proceed with the case.

"The judgment will be delivered by the chamber in open court and can be followed live on the court's website," said the ICC.

Why this ruling is significant

The upcoming decision centres on a key legal question of whether or not the ICC has jurisdiction over the case involving Duterte.

This issue has followed an earlier ruling in October last year, when pre-trial chamber I rejected the defence’s argument that the court lacked authority.

Duterte’s legal team then challenged that outcome, filing an appeal within days and later submitting detailed arguments contesting the court’s jurisdiction.

"On October 23, 2025, pre-trial chamber I rejected the defence’s challenge to the jurisdiction of the court in this case. On October 28, 2025, the defence for Duterte submitted its notice of appeal against this decision and submitted its appeal brief on jurisdiction on November 14, 2025," stated the ICC.

If the previous ruling is upheld, the case will move forward to trial. If overturned, it could halt proceedings altogether, making this a substantial stage of the case.

Allegations linked to ‘war on drugs’

The former president has been suspected of crimes against humanity, including murder and attempted murder, under the ICC statute.

Prosecutors have alleged that these acts were part of a "widespread and systematic attack" targeting civilians in the Philippines between November 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019.

Moreover, these accusations have been tied to the Duterte administration's controversial "war on drugs," a campaign that attracted criticisms over alleged extrajudicial killings.

Case timeline so far

The case has progressed since early 2025. A warrant of arrest has been issued in March that year and was initially kept confidential before being made public shortly after.

"Following a request of the ICC office of the prosecutor, the warrant of arrest against Duterte was issued by pre-trial chamber I as “secret” on March 7, 2025 and reclassified as “public” on March 11, 2025," shared the ICC.

Afterwards, Duterte has been surrendered to the court the following day, marking a significant development in the proceedings.

His first appearance before the court has taken place on March 14, 2025, while the hearing for the confirmation of charges has been held from February 23 to 27 this year.

Further, the outcome of the April 22 decision will lead the direction of one of the most closely followed international cases in recent years.