Manila, Feb. 13 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected the appeal of former president Rodrigo Duterte's camp to overturn the earlier ruling that deemed him fit to stand trial.

"An appealable 'issue' is an identifiable subject or topic requiring a decision for its resolution, not merely a question over which there is disagreement or conflicting opinion ... [I]t must emanate from the relevant decision itself and cannot represent a hypothetical concern or abstract legal question," the Feb. 13 ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I decision said rejecting the defense's appeal.

The ICC ruled on Jan. 26 that Duterte, who turns 81 in March, is fit to take part in the pre-trial and denied his request for an indefinite adjournment of the procee...