FORMER Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared before the International Trial Court (ICC) last night, March 14, 2025 (Manila Time), marking the first step in his prosecution for alleged crimes against humanity.
Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc, a Romanian, stated that the 79-year-old former president was fatigued after traveling from the Philippines to the Netherlands following his arrest. As a result, he was allowed to attend the session via video link.
The prosecution team is led by Karim Khan, an international British lawyer who specializes in international criminal law and international human rights.
The defense for Duterte is Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
During the appearance, Duterte’s legal counsel claimed that the ex-president was “abducted” from his country.
“He was summarily transported to The Hague. To lawyers it’s extrajudicial rendition. For less legal minds it’s pure and simple kidnapping,” Medialdea said during the pre-trial.
He further alleged that the ICC and Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. formed an “unlikely alliance” to arrest Duterte.
“Two troubled entities struck an unlikely alliance, an incumbent president who wished to neutralize and choke the legacy of my client and his daughter, on the other hand, and a troubled legal institution subject to delegitimization and desperate for a prize catch and a legal show today, on the other hand,” he said.
The pre-trial aims to verify the suspect’s identity and ensure he fully understands his rights under the Rome Statute of the ICC in a language he speaks fluently.
Motoc stated that the ICC scheduled Duterte’s confirmation of charges for September 23, 2025.
She explained that if the charges were not confirmed, a trial would not proceed.
Additionally, before the trial, Duterte has the option to file a petition for interim release. This means that Duterte can request to be released from custody under specific conditions before the trial officially begins.
The court will decide based on factors like flight risk, witness protection, and the necessity of continued detention.
