The Tamesis
April 29, 2026
Manila – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has assured the integrity and expertise of three members of the Trial Chamber who will handle the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Following last week’s confirmation of all murder and attempted murder charges against Duterte, the ICC Presidency, led by Judge Tomoko Akane, approved the referral of the case against the former Philippine leader to Trial Chamber III.
The bench consists of British judge Joanna Korner, Korean judge Paek Kee-bong and French judge Nicolas Guillou.
READ: As Duterte goes on trial, focus turns to dela Rosa and others
Selection basis
Oriane Mellet, a spokesperson for The Hague-based ICC, told reporters on Tuesday that the ICC judges are “persons of high moral character, impartiality and integrity who possess the qualifications required for appointment to the highest judicial office in their respective states.”
Mayet said the ICC judges have extensive experience in international tribunals and that their appointments are “based on their established competencies in relevant areas of international law, including criminal law and procedure, as well as international humanitarian law and human rights law.”
The ICC’s jurists are elected by the Assembly of States Parties, a legislative body composed of representatives of the 125 member states of the International Criminal Court. Currently, 125 countries have become parties to the Rome Statute, the founding framework of the International Court of Justice.
Melet earlier noted that the three-member trial chamber will present the next phase of proceedings in Duterte’s case. This includes holding status meetings and discussions with all parties and participants in the case to determine a trial timetable and “fairly and expeditiously conduct” the proceedings.
She added that the committee would also decide preliminary issues such as when and how evidence should be disclosed.
On April 23, Pre-Trial Chamber 1 (PTC) found that Duterte had sufficient grounds to be “criminally responsible” for the brutal killings of drug suspects during his anti-drug war. It cited the former president’s own public statements instructing police to shoot criminals, government data on drug-related deaths during police operations, and internal witnesses as part of a “concerted plan” to “eliminate” alleged suspects.
Lead defense attorney Nicholas Kaufman has said he will ask PTC I for permission to appeal the decision.
Cristina Conte, an ICC-accredited lawyer who has been assisting victims of the drug war, predicts that the trial could begin as early as October this year or the first quarter of next year.
She noted that proceedings can drag on for up to 10 years, but there have been cases where trials have concluded in as little as three years.
Victims’ lawyers also anticipate whether PTC I will go after Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and other co-conspirators named by prosecutors in Duterte’s case.
For Conte, dela Rosa and other former top police officials could be charged with imprisonment or other crimes against humanity that severely deprive people of their liberty, in connection with hundreds of thousands of arrests during Duterte’s war on drugs.
She said the charges, if successful, would not affect the progress of Duterte’s trial. /cb
