ICC Appeals Chamber to issue decision on Duterte jurisdiction on April 22

MANILA — The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will release its judgement on the jurisdiction challenge of the defense team of former president Rodrigo Duterte later this month.

In a statement, the Appeals Chamber said it will issue its ruling on the appeal in open court on Wednesday, April 22 at 11 a.m. (Netherlands time).

Duterte’s legal team made the appeal in October, challenging the decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber 1 to allow the ICC prosecutor to continue proceedings related to alleged crimes against humanity committed during the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.

Duterte’s team asked the court to rule "there exists no legal basis for the continuation of International Criminal Court proceedings against Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte."

READ: Duterte camp appeals ICC jurisdiction ruling

The Duterte camp has also been insisting that the ICC has no authority to investigate alleged crimes in the Philippines after the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute took effect in 2019.

READ: Duterte defense team insists ICC cannot probe Philippines after withdrawal in 2019

Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, after which he was brought to The Hague, where he has been detained since.

The ICC Appeals Chamber earlier rejected Duterte’s appeal for a conditional release, ruling he should remain in detention at The Hague.

READ: Duterte rejection of ICC jurisdiction cited as ground for continued detention