Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte Makes First ICC Appearance Since Arrest

TIME

Rodrigo Duterte, who served as Philippine President from 2016 to 2022, appeared for the first time at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Friday.

Transcript

00:00The International Criminal Court is now in session.

00:05The Chamber notes that your counsel, Mr. Duterte, filed two motions.

00:12One in relation with today's hearing.

00:15And you may be aware that these two motions have not been accepted by the Chamber.

00:28Two days ago, the whole world has witnessed the degrading fashion

00:33in which a former president of a sovereign country

00:37was bundled into a private aircraft and summarily transported to The Hague.

00:45To us lawyers, this would be called an extrajudicial rendition.

00:52To the less legally inclined, it was a pure and simple kidnapping.

00:58My client was denied all access to the legal recourse in the country of his citizenship

01:06and this all in the nature of political score settling.

01:11With this in mind, it is not surprising that my client was abducted from his country.

01:17ICC private jets do not drop out of the thin air.

01:22That jet which received my client was coordinated in advance.

01:28I believe that the court has taken specific measures with regard to his health situation

01:38and I note that subsequent to his arrest and when he arrived at the detention center,

01:44the court's doctor was of the opinion that you were fully mentally aware and fit

01:54and that you have undergone further checks and tests at the detention facility.

02:00And when you broached health matters saying that you were not able to come to the hearing,

02:06the doctors who consulted with you were of the opinion that Mr. Duterte was not in a position to come to the hearing physically

02:15but that if he gave written permission, he would be able to take part via video link.

02:21Now that is with regard to the health matters that you just mentioned.

02:26They are very important, especially concerning the matter of age.

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