Filipinos who can move fluently between English and the languages of the southern Philippines now have a route into a war-crimes case that has gripped the country for months. The International Criminal Court has begun recruiting interpreters in Tagalog, as well as Cebuano or Bisaya, to support the prosecution of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Pay depends on the tier of the role. Associate court interpreters sit at the higher end, with a guaranteed net salary starting at €71,173 a year, or about ₱5.09 million at current exchange rates. Paraprofessional interpreters earn a minimum of €55,665 annually, roughly ₱3.98 million.
The listings spell out a broad scope of work. Those hired will handle both spoken interpretation and written translation, covering hearings, investigative work and interviews with witnesses. Placement can vary, with assignments possible on a remote basis, in the field, or at the court’s base in The Hague.
The recruitment drive comes well ahead of the proceedings themselves. The ICC published the vacancies on its website Thursday, with the trial not due to open until Nov. 30, 2026 — leaving roughly half a year before courtroom work begins.
At the center of the case is Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign, which forms the basis of the crimes against humanity charges he faces.
