Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte appeared for the first time at the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court in the Hague via video conference, Friday, March 14, 2025.
Duterte was arrested by Philippine authorities in Manila on March 11, 2025, based on an arrest warrant from ICC that was sent through the International Criminal Police and was flown to the Netherlands on a private plane the same day.
In its press release, the ICC referred to the former president as simply Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The presiding Judge, Julia Antoanella Motoc, kept referring to him as “Mr. Dutert”, presumably how one pronounced his name in French.
Duterte was not required to show up at the court in person. He appeared via video link from the ICC detention center where he was being held, wearing a dark blue suit and blue tie, with headphones in front of the ICC’s blue backdrop logo.
The chamber authorized Duterte to follow the hearing at a distance. It was made accessible by livestream in English and French, on the ICC website with a 30-minute delay for anyone in the world to follow, including viewers in the Philippines.
The whole proceedings lasted about 30 minutes.
Medialdea questioned the manner of his arrest and his delivery to the ICC which, in effect, was “pure, simple kidnapping”.
In his stead, his Counsel Medialdea raised the manner of arrest and delivery of the former president to the Hague. He first complained that he was able to speak to Duterte only for one hour in the morning and did not have much time with him.
Medialdea questioned the manner of his arrest and his delivery to the ICC which, in effect, was “pure, simple kidnapping”.
He related how Duterte was taken in a degrading fashion in a private aircraft and summarily transferred to the Hague, which he referred to as “extrajudicial rendition”.
The Counsel cited the reasons for what happened as “political score-settling” and that the manner of delivery and transit in the UAE was a “gross abuse of process”.
He also mentioned Duterte’s debilitating medical issues, hardness of hearing and poorness of sight.
Medialdea further said that he was able to meet Duterte only that morning and managed to speak only for one hour to discuss legal issues.
The counsel said they did not have a hard copy of the arrest warrant, other than a redacted one.
He added that his client was unable to contribute anything to the hearing.
Medialdea repeated his request to postpone the hearing until next week so that he could talk to his client.
Unfortunately, Medialdea appeared to not fully understand what the Presiding Judge said repeatedly about the nature of the pre-trial hearing.
Motoc responded by reminding Medialdea that his two motions have not been accepted by the Chamber and further discussions are not necessary because the hearing was to introduce the parties and to confirm the dates for a later full hearing.
With regard to health issues, the court had taken specific steps to help Duterte’s specific situation and the court doctor said that he was fully mentally aware and fit.
Considering the distance travelled and his age, they allowed him to attend the court via video link.
Judge Motoc responded that they have a copy of the Registry’s report that Duterte had been informed of his rights, that he was aware of his rights and the charges against him.
Duterte was also aware of the warrant of arrest in the English language, and that he was well versed in the English language.
She assured Duterte that he will have the opportunity to raise all matters with regards to the arrest and charges as well as the matter of jurisdiction of the court, during the confirmation of charges hearing.
The Presiding Judge proceeded to the third stage of the hearing which was just to set a date for the confirmation of charges after assessing all factors including the need for the parties and participants to adequately prepare as well as Duterte’s right to be tried within a reasonable time.
The hearing for the confirmation of charges is scheduled on 23 September 2025.
This is to allow both parties to adequately prepare for the hearing as well as to respect Duterte’s rights.
In the next hearing, Motoc informed the Counsel that he could raise all the matters he raised about warrant of arrest and jurisdiction.
Motoc reiterated that the request for another hearing the next week was denied by the Court since this was just an initial hearing.
She explained the next procedural step was for the Chamber to call status conferences for a small exchange of information which includes the disclosure of evidence between the prosecution and defence.
She then asked for this process of disclosure to start within the next 7 days.
The chamber will also decide on the participation of the victims in order to present their views and concerns in the next proceedings.
Presiding Judge Motoc finally declared Duterte’s first appearance hearing closed and thanked all participants at the hearing including the interpreters and stenographers, before standing up and leaving the chamber with her fellow judges.
Pinoy Portal Europe
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