MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte was given a “fair trial” in his first appearance at the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Palace said over the weekend.
According to Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro, the ICC is treating Duterte well by checking on his physical and mental health and whether he understood the charges against him.
“No postponement of this first appearance was accepted by the Court since there is no need and it is not yet the time for the suspect to present his defenses and evidence,” Castro said in a statement.
“The judge even emphasized that the Court’s doctor gave the opinion that FP Duterte is fully mentally aware and fit and that he had undergone further checks and tests at the detention facility,” she added.
Castro also said the court confirmed that former Chief Executive had been informed of his rights.
“Therefore, [Duterte] was indeed afforded his fundamental rights as a suspect of crimes against humanity, specifically murder, contrary to [the] Duterte camp statements,” she said. “This is what we call fair trial.”
Duterte appeared before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC late Friday night (Philippine time) to address allegations of crimes against humanity, specifically murder, reportedly committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019.
The former Philippine president participated in the hearing via video link from the ICC Detention Centre, acknowledging the significant distance he had traveled from his country.
The ICC has provisionally scheduled the hearing for the confirmation of charges on September 23, 2025. This proceeding will evaluate whether sufficient evidence exists to establish substantial grounds for believing that the accused committed the alleged offenses.
Should the charges be confirmed, either in full or in part, the case will advance to a Trial Chamber for the trial phase./PN
