Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has formally declined to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his upcoming confirmation of charges hearing scheduled from February 23-27, 2026. The controversial leader stated his absence constitutes a strategic component of his defense team’s challenge against the sufficiency of prosecution evidence.
In an official waiver signed by Duterte and submitted through his legal representatives, the ex-president explicitly rejected participating via communications technology from outside the courtroom. Duterte simultaneously leveled serious allegations against current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., accusing him of ‘facilitating kidnapping’ by arranging special charter flights to transport him to The Netherlands for trial proceedings.
The ICC has acknowledged receipt of Duterte’s request and indicated it will deliberate on the matter before issuing a public announcement prior to the February 23 session commencement.
Human rights attorneys, particularly members of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), have condemned Duterte’s decision as demonstrating profound cowardice. NUPL President Ephraim Cortez characterized the repeated avoidance of court appearances as behavior unbecoming of a former national leader, contrasting Duterte’s conduct with the defiant courtroom demeanor historically displayed by figures like Saddam Hussein and Nicholas Maduro.
Cortez further asserted that without the protection of his customary security detail and insulatory barriers, Duterte appears incapable of mustering the courage to confront his accusers directly. This marks not the first instance of the former president refusing physical appearance before the ICC, having previously avoided hearings concerning his potential temporary release from the Scheveningen District detention facility in March 2025.