Duterte appears virtually at ICC; next hearing set on Sept. 23

Manila Bulletin

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-trial Chamber I has set former president Rodrigo Duterte's confirmation of charges hearing on Sept. 23, six months after his arrest early this week.  The ICC allowed Duterte to attend the hearing via video link, citing Duterte's long journey. His counsel, former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, was present in the courtroom.

Transcript

00:00Court officer, could you please call the case?

00:30Thank you, Madam President. Your Honours.

00:34The situation in the Republic of the Philippines case,

00:39the prosecutor versus Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte,

00:45case number ICC 0121-0125.

00:51And we are in open session.

00:54This said, I would like firstly to confirm your identity.

00:59Could you provide us with your full names, please?

01:04I am Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

01:09That's my first middle name is Roa.

01:16My surname is Duterte.

01:25My birth date is March 28, 1945.

01:36I was born in the province of Leyte in the Philippines.

01:48Thank you very much.

01:51As a preliminary point.

01:55Very well, thank you, Mr. Duterte.

01:57As a preliminary point, it is useful to clarify the nature

02:01and limited scope of this first appearance hearing.

02:07Today's hearing is neither the start of the trial,

02:11nor is it a confirmation of charges hearing.

02:16During today's hearing, no evidence will be collected or presented.

02:20And the issues of Mr. Duterte's guilt or innocence

02:25will therefore not be addressed.

02:30In accordance with Article 61 of the Rome Statute,

02:35the Court's founding treaty,

02:37and Rule 1211 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence,

02:42the main purpose of this initial appearance is to answer three questions.

02:49Firstly, the Chamber must ensure that the person who was the subject

02:56of the arrest warrant has been informed of the crimes of which he is accused.

03:04Second, the Chamber must ensure that this person has been informed of his rights

03:11as recognised by the Rome Statute.

03:15Third, the Chamber must set a date on which it intends

03:21to hold a confirmation of charges hearing.

03:28The Chamber notes that your counsel, Mr. Duterte, filed two motions,

03:35one in relation with today's hearing.

03:39And you may be aware that these two motions

03:47have not been accepted by the Chamber because of the nature of today's hearing.

03:56No further discussion on the matter is necessary during this hearing

04:02because, as I said at an earlier stage,

04:05the aim of this hearing today is to introduce the parties

04:12and to ascertain the charges

04:15and to set a date for the confirmation of charges hearing at a later stage.

04:21To set the date for the confirmation of charges hearing.

04:25After accessing all factors, including the need for the parties and participants

04:30to adequately prepare, as well as Mr. Duterte's rights,

04:35including his right to be tried within a reasonable time,

04:39the date for the commencement of the confirmation of charges hearing is

04:44September 23, 2025.

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