The International Criminal Court (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor has asked judges to reject former President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to skip the confirmation of charges hearing in his crimes against humanity case over the drug war.
In a six-page response dated February 19, Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang told the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I that Duterte is “available, fit, and should attend the hearing in person.”
“The Prosecution respectfully requests that the Chamber reject Mr. Duterte’s request to waive his right to appear at the confirmation hearing,” the filing stated.
“Mr. Duterte is not entitled to unilaterally excuse himself from attending the proceedings in-person. There is no reasonable cause for Mr. Duterte not to appear in person in court at the confirmation hearing.”
Prosecutors argued Duterte failed to provide any compelling justification for holding the hearing in his absence. His claims that he does not recognize ICC jurisdiction, was “kidnapped,” and faces an “outrageous lie” from political opponents were dismissed as insufficient.
The filing also rejected Duterte’s assertions about his health, noting:
“Mr. Duterte is fit, competent, and physically and mentally able to attend the hearing in person… His complaints that he is ‘old, tired, and frail’ are irrelevant.”
The ICC clarified that Duterte’s request remains subject to judicial decision.
“It is just a request from the defense for now; it will be for the ICC Judges to decide on it, at this stage,” the Court said. (ZIA LUNA)
