THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court’s Office of the Prosecutor expressed confidence that the case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will proceed to trial, following the conclusion of confirmation of charges hearings in The Hague.

Senior trial lawyer Julian Nicholls, delivering the prosecution’s closing statement, said the evidence presented met the threshold required for the judges to confirm charges of crimes against humanity. 

“The standard for substantial grounds to confirm the charges against former president Rodrigo R. Duterte is met and enough for a full trial to proceed,” Nicholls declared, adding that the defense’s arguments only underscored why the case should advance.

The hearings, which began on February 23, were presided over by ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I, composed of Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc, Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou, and Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera. The chamber’s role is to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to establish substantial grounds to believe Duterte committed the crimes charged.

Prosecutors argued that Duterte bears responsibility for thousands of killings linked to his administration’s anti-drug campaign, describing it as a systematic attack on civilians. Duterte, who is now 80 years old, did not attend the final sessions after being excused by the chamber, but his defense team led by Nicholas Kaufman insisted that the allegations lacked direct evidence tying him to the killings.

Judges have up to 60 days from the conclusion of the hearings to issue their ruling on whether the charges will be confirmed. If they do, Duterte will face a full trial before the ICC, marking a historic moment in international accountability for a former head of state.

The prosecution’s confidence signals a strong push toward trial, while the defense maintains that the case should be dismissed. The decision now rests with the judges, whose ruling will determine the next phase of one of the most closely watched international cases involving the Philippines.