Duterte faces ICC ‘virtually’ for the first time for crimes against humanity charges

Metro Manila, Philippines – Former President Rodrigo Duterte has appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC) ‘virtually’ for the first time on Friday night, March 14, in The Hague, Netherlands, in connection with charges of crimes against humanity.

ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I was presided over by Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc. She has granted Duterte’s request to attend the hearing via video link.

"As Mr. Duterte made a long journey ... the Chamber authorized Mr. Duterte to follow the hearing at a distance. His counsel, however, is present with us in the courtroom," the ICC spokesperson said. Duterte’s counsel is his former executive secretary, Salvador Medialdea.

Apart from Motoc, other pre-trial chamber judges were JReine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera. Members of the diplomatic corps, civil society groups, and the public were allowed to attend.

As of 10 p.m., Manila time, the ICC website link for the Duterte hearing has yet to start.

Duterte has been accused of committing murder as a crime against humanity between Nov. 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019, in connection with his bloody war on illegal drugs as mayor of Davao City and eventually as president.

His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, arrived at the ICC with Senator Robin Padilla and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque - marking Roque’s first public appearance since leaving the country amid investigations into his alleged ties to illegal offshore gaming.

In a chance interview with reporters in The Hague, Sara said she hopes the ICC will grant their request to postpone her father’s initial appearance before the tribunal.

This is a developing story.