ICC allows Rody to skip confirmation hearings

Pretrial judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) yesterday allowed former president Rodrigo Duterte to skip his confirmation of charges hearing next week.

- By JANVIC MATEO

Duterte

In a six-page decision, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I granted Duterte's request to waive his right to attend – both in person and via video conference – the hearings scheduled on Feb. 23, 24, 26 and 27.

It said that Duterte's signed request submitted by his lawyer Nicholas Kaufman is sufficient to fulfill the requirements for the waiver.

"The Chamber, while acknowledging the objections of the Prosecution and the CLRV (Common Legal Representative of the Victims), considers that, in the present circumstances of the case, it is appropriate to proceed with the hearing on the confirmation of charges in the absence of Mr. Duterte," read the ruling.

ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet clarified that Duterte's absence next week "is based on the waiver of the suspect, not on reasons related to the health."

"In regard of a panel of medical experts and legal circumstances of the case, the judges had found, on 26 January 2026, that Mr. Duterte fit to take part in the pretrial proceedings," she added.

In their ruling, the pretrial judges noted that the defense's submissions in the request "are speculative, have no impact on the Court proceedings and are irrelevant."

It appears to be referring to Kaufman's claims pertaining to Duterte's medical condition.

In his request, Duterte claimed to be "old, tired and frail" and asked the judges to "respect (his) peace" inside his detention facility. He also reiterated that he does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC.

ICC deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang earlier opposed the request, saying there is no reasonable cause for Duterte not to appear during his confirmation hearing.

"Mr. Duterte is not entitled to unilaterally excuse himself from attending the proceedings in-person. It is ultimately for the Chamber to decide 'whether there is cause' to hold the confirmation hearing in the absence of the suspect," read Niang's court filing.