Photo: The Manila Times

THE HAGUE, Sept 8, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The International Criminal Court on Monday postponed "until further notice" a hearing on crimes against humanity allegedly committed by former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, while judges weigh his fitness to take part.

Duterte was scheduled to appear at the ICC on September 23 to hear the charges over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups say killed thousands.

But the court decided to adjourn the hearing until it could decide on a defence motion that the 80-year-old was "not fit to stand trial".

"Litigation regarding Mr Duterte's fitness to participate in the pre-trial proceedings is ongoing in connection with the Defence's Adjournment Request," said the court in a statement.

Hence the court decided that a "limited postponement of the hearing on the confirmation of charges is warranted to allow sufficient time to adjudicate" on the defence request.

The three-judge panel was split on the decision, with one dissenting.

The postponement will be "limited to the time strictly necessary to determine whether Mr Duterte is fit to follow and participate in the pre-trial proceedings", the ICC said.

Duterte was arrested in Manila on March 11, flown to the Netherlands that same night and has been held at the ICC's detention unit at Scheveningen Prison since.

At his initial hearing, he followed by videolink, appearing dazed and frail, barely speaking.

He is the first Asian former head of state charged by the ICC.