The International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber III has officially set the start of the trial in the case against former President Rodrigo Duterte on November 30.

ICC Trial Chamber III Presiding Judge Joanna Korner announced the start date of the trial.

"As regards first of all the then to the decisions we've come to the start of trial. We are prepared to exceed to the prosecution's application of the 30th of November as the start of trial. The trial will run on a daily basis until the judicial recess, or thereabouts," Korner said.

The November 30 schedule was the date proposed by the prosecution.

The defense, however, had initially sought to delay the start of the trial beyond this year.

Counsel for FPRRD Peter Haynes argued that the defense needed more time to prepare following the prosecution's disclosure.

"That the start of the trial could not be this year. We will be ready whenever you want it to start, but our anxiety is that should not be a date which leaves us perhaps one or two months after the end of the prosecution disclosure it should be a minimum of three," Haynes said.

Meanwhile, the Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) expressed openness to the November 30 schedule.

OPCV Counsel Paolina Massidda said the proposed schedule is acceptable, but a later start would be too long.

"We had further consultations with our client. They are amenable to start 30 of November since to then at a reasonable period of time. January 2027, no. The time is too long," Massidda said.

Based on the court's ruling, hearings will be held daily, up to five days a week, before the scheduled judicial recess during the long holiday in December.

Several key deadlines must also be observed before the formal opening of the trial.

August 31 is the deadline for the prosecution to submit its final list of witnesses, evidence, and trial brief.

September 28 is the deadline for the submission of the trial brief of the legal representatives of the victims.

October 30, meanwhile, is the deadline for the defense to provide its indication of issues and the defenses it will use.

The court also emphasized the importance of the accused's fitness to stand trial.

The parties were directed to submit a joint letter on the matter of experts by June 3 to assess the health of the former President.

Presiding Judge Joanna Korner noted that the schedule may need to be adjusted depending on the condition of the accused.

"The chamber would obviously like to sit, subject to witness problems, 5 days a week, but we note the recommendations that were made for the confirmation, hearing, and so it may well be that, we'll have to adjust it if we have to have a day, for the accused not to be in court, each week," Korner said.

As part of the preparations, two more status conferences are scheduled on June 23 and July 14.

The ICC also assured that interpretation will be provided for the opening statements at the end of November to ensure that Filipino citizens will be able to understand the proceedings.

In addition, the use of household forms for victims was also permitted to make their participation in the process easier.