Metro Manila, Philippines – Former President Rodrigo Duterte appears to have accepted the continuation of proceedings against him before the International Criminal Court, Malacañang said Thursday after his first in-person appearance before judges.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the observation after the media asked her about Duterte’s first public appearance in 18 months during Wednesday’s status conference in The Hague.
“Unang-una, sa mga kababayan natin, nakita naman po natin na maganda naman po ang kalagayan ng ating dating pangulo na si dating Pangulong Duterte,” Castro said.
[Translation: First, our fellow Filipinos saw that our former president, former President Duterte, appeared to be in good condition.]
“At nakita naman namin na mukhang accepted naman niya po na magtuluy-tuloy ang hearing sa ICC,” she added.
[Translation: And from what we saw, he appears to have accepted that the ICC hearings will continue.]
Duterte, 81, personally appeared before ICC Trial Chamber III on Wednesday, Sept. 16, marking the first time he had physically entered an ICC courtroom since he was transferred to The Hague, Netherlands in March 2025.
In a dark suit and white shirt, Duterte did not speak during the proceedings but stood and acknowledged members of his family seated in the public gallery.
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner acknowledged the significance of his attendance at the opening of the hearing.
“This is the first time that Mr. Duterte has been in this court,” Korner said.
The judge also told Duterte’s lawyer, Peter Haynes, that the former president could leave the courtroom at any point without first seeking permission from the Chamber. Duterte remained during the proceedings.
His appearance, however, does not by itself mean that Duterte or his defense has withdrawn their legal objections to the ICC proceedings.
The ICC has maintained that it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was a state party to the Rome Statute, from Nov. 1, 2011 through March 16, 2019. Duterte caused the country’s exit from the treaty.
The former president had previously appeared before ICC judges only through video link during his initial appearance on March 14, 2025.
During Wednesday’s status conference, the Trial Chamber focused on preparations for Duterte’s trial, including the prosecution’s witnesses, thousands of pieces of evidence and the amount of courtroom time needed to present the case.
Korner pressed prosecutors to find ways to shorten their presentation after they estimated needing 193 hours for their witnesses.
She said the Chamber wanted the prosecution case concluded as swiftly as possible, particularly given limitations on sitting hours reflected in Duterte’s medical reports.
His trial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30.
