On September 8, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera dissenting, decided to postpone the commencement of the confirmation hearing in the case of The Prosecutor vs. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The hearing had been initially scheduled to start on 23 September 2025.

Following a request from the Defence of Mr Duterte for an indefinite adjournment of the proceedings alleging that Mr Duterte is not fit to stand trial, the majority of the Chamber considered that a limited postponement of the hearing on the confirmation of charges was warranted to allow sufficient time to adjudicate the request and related matters.

The Chamber will, if applicable, set a specific date once it has addressed such outstanding matters.

Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera issued a dissenting opinion expressing the view that the request from the Defence should have been rejected and the pre-trial proceedings continued, including the confirmation of charges hearing.

The purpose of the confirmation of charges hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed each of the crimes charged. If one or more of the charges are confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber, which will conduct the subsequent phase of the proceedings: the trial. International Criminal Court