FORMER Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has refused to attend the confirmation of charges against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), scheduled for Feb. 23 to 27, 2026.
In a notification signed on February 17, Duterte said he understands the consequences of waiving his right to attend. He has entrusted his legal team to challenge the prosecution's evidence on his behalf, maintaining that he does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction.
“I am a Filipino citizen forcibly pushed into a jet and renditioned to The Hague in the Netherlands in flagrant contravention of my country's Constitution and of national sovereignty,” Duterte said. “My kidnapping was facilitated by the office of the incumbent President of the Philippines with a plane specially chartered for this purpose.”
Duterte, 80, is facing charges related to:
Murders by the Davao Death Squad during his term as mayor.
Murders of high-value targets during his presidency.
Murders during barangay clearance operations.
The former President, who was arrested in the Philippines in March 2025, described the accusations of extra-judicial killings as an “outrageous lie” by political opponents.
“I am old, tired, and frail. I wish for this Court to respect my peace inside the cell it has placed me,” he said, adding that he has accepted he might die in prison.
In response, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro rejected the "kidnapping" claim. She cited Section 17 of Republic Act 9851, which allows the Philippine government to defer cases to international tribunals.
“Our fellow Filipinos were only able to file cases at the ICC because we remember that former President Duterte said he would not be arrested or jailed because he had immunity,” Castro said in a television interview. She noted that victims turned to the ICC because they felt domestic justice was unattainable at the time.
Castro also questioned Duterte’s shift in rhetoric, noting his previous statements where he claimed full responsibility for the drug war.
“Is he now denying his admission of having ordered killings?" Castro asked. "Is he now placing the blame on the police and claiming he was not the mastermind?”
The ICC proceedings will continue as scheduled despite Duterte's absence.
The immediate focus is the February 23–27 hearing. The judges are not deciding guilt or innocence yet; they are deciding if there is "substantial ground to believe" Duterte committed the crimes.
The Sufficiency of Evidence: If the judges confirm the charges, the case moves to the Trial Chamber, and a formal trial will begin.
Political Repercussions: Duterte’s claim of being "kidnapped" by the current administration could further inflame political tensions in the Philippines, especially as supporters view his detention as a betrayal of national sovereignty.
Medical Appeals: Watch for continued attempts by the defense to use Duterte’s "frailty" and "forgetfulness" to stall proceedings or seek a transfer to a hospital or house arrest.(TPM/SunStar Philippines)