ICC grants Duterte’s plea to skip hearing on detention

The International Criminal Court (ICC) will proceed with a hearing regarding the detention of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte without his physical presence, after granting his request to skip the proceeding scheduled for February 27.

Duterte Waives Right to Attend Hearing

In a decision dated February 25, the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I noted that Duterte acknowledged his right to be present at the detention hearing but chose to waive it. The chamber also stated that Duterte was informed of the legal consequences of this decision by his legal counsel.

“Considering that nothing in the Court’s legal framework requires the presence of the suspect at the hearing mandated by rule 118(3) of the Rules, the Chamber finds that, in the present circumstances, it is appropriate to grant Mr. Duterte’s Request,” the chamber added.

Duterte stated he trusts his lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, and his legal team to represent him, and expressed a desire not to participate in the hearing remotely.

“My Counsel has explained to me the legal consequences emanating from such a waiver, and I trust him and my ICC legal team to represent me faithfully. I do not wish to follow this hearing from outside the courtroom through the use of communications technology,” he said.

The former President had previously waived his appearance at the confirmation of charges hearing, stating, “I do not wish to attend legal proceedings that I will forget within minutes. I am old, tired, and frail. I wish for this Court to respect my peace inside the cell it has placed me.”

Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, and transported to The Hague, Netherlands, the location of the ICC.

He currently faces three counts of murder as crimes against humanity, accused of being an “indirect co-perpetrator” in extrajudicial killings linked to his war on illegal drugs, allegedly occurring between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019, during his time as mayor of Davao City and as President of the Philippines.