* Looks hale and happy
By Ivy Tejano
PASAY CITY — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared in person at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday, Sept. 16, for the first time since he was kidnapped and flown by private jet to The Hague, Netherlands on March 2025.
The former Chief Executive attended the third status conference of the ICC Trial Chamber III, which is preparing for his trial on crimes against humanity charges linked to killings during his anti-drug campaign.
Duterte previously appeared before the ICC through a video link during his initial hearing in March 2025. He later waived his attendance at succeeding hearings, with his defense team citing medical reasons.
Wearing a dark suit and white shirt, Duterte sat behind his defense team as the proceedings began.
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner acknowledged that it was his first time inside the courtroom and said he could leave at any time without asking permission from the court.
Duterte remained in the courtroom throughout the hearing and did not speak.
The hearing focused on preparations for the trial, including the prosecution’s witnesses, evidence, disclosure of materials to the defense and the trial schedule.
Korner urged prosecutors to consider reducing the number of witnesses and evidence they plan to present.
The prosecution said it currently plans to use about 193 hours to present its case but would look for ways to shorten the proceedings.
The ICC has scheduled the start of Duterte’s trial for November 30, 2026. The proceedings are expected to continue through the end of the year and resume in 2027.
Lately, the prosecution claimed on digital media that 1,500 to 2,500 victims of EJK carried out by the Davao Death Squad were buried in an abandoned quarry. This is a bloated figure from the original 43 alleged victims which was read to him by the prosecution on day one.
The allegationxs however has not been proven. The Commission on Human Rights, then chaired by Leila de Lima, has not come up with a single piece of evidence. She and her probe team started digging all over the quarry since 2009 but have not found any human remains until today.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity. Prosecutors alleged that he was involved in at least 76 murders committed between 2013 and 2018 in connection with the campaign against illegal drugs. He has denied wrongdoing.
The patriarch’s grandchildren, Omar and Isabelle Duterte, were among those who attended the hearing from the gallery.
After the proceedings, Duterte waved and smiled toward his family and supporters in the gallery.
The ICC is investigating alleged crimes committed in the Philippines during Duterte’s time as Davao City mayor and president.
The court says its proceedings concern individual criminal responsibility, and suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
