Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Initial appearance of Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte

Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea stands as a legal counsel for former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his initial appearance before the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court") on Friday, 14 March 2025, at 14:00 hours (The Hague local time),

Article (news)

Rowegie Abanto

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176430157580320250909-icc-resched-protest-JC0245.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rights advocates from Karapatan holds a press conference at the Ambai Modern Tambayan restaurant in Quezon City on September 9, 2025 on the ICC&#x27;s postponement of the confirmation of charges of Rodrigo Duterte.The victims and their families, fear that any postponement in the proceedings gives the Dutertes the opportunity to harass, endanger or even eliminate the prosecution witnesses.<em> Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court will deliver its decision <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/21/icc-appeals-chamber-to-decide-on-duterte-s-interim-release-appeal-on-nov-28-0038?fbclid=IwY2xjawOU7JZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFjSWhjYmU4eVhwNFlIeDZ1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHk2dzOzQN0G9ppKW2kXmvrVI-uNgjODcxoiU64g6sDKgfRefoee2w68MqP99_aem_vYByMR5aqqh9ExbAIQqvSg">today</a>, November 28, on the appeal of former President Rodrigo Duterte for an interim release.</p><p>In a decision released in October, the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/10/icc-rejects-duterte-s-interim-release-plea-1714">rejected</a> the Duterte camp&#x27;s request for a provisional release, ordering the former Philippine president&#x27;s continued detention at The Hague in the Netherlands.</p><p>That ruling is the subject of an appeal by Duterte, which will be decided by the ICC&#x27;s Appeals Chamber.</p><p>Its judgment will be delivered in an open court at 5:30 p.m. (Manila time) and will be livestreamed through the <a href="https://www.icc-cpi.int/streaming-all-displays?CR=Courtroom%201">ICC website</a> as well as on its Facebook and YouTube accounts. </p><p>ABS-CBN News will also stream the decision on its <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@abscbnnews">YouTube channel</a>.</p><p>Duterte, however, will not be physically or virtually present at the court, as he <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/28/duterte-to-skip-november-28-icc-hearing-on-interim-release-0624">waived his right to appear </a>at Friday&#x27;s hearing, according to a filing submitted by his counsel, Nicholas Kaufman. </p><p>Kaufman earlier argued that Duterte, 80, was not a flight risk, would not jeopardize the proceedings if granted interim release, would not continue to commit crimes, and the court should consider his advanced age.</p><p>Earlier this month, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/1/icc-prosecution-urges-appeals-chamber-to-keep-rodrigo-duterte-detained-0830">urged</a> the Appeals Chamber to keep Duterte detained, arguing that his camp failed to establish any legal or factual error in the original decision to keep him in custody.</p><p>Duterte has been detained at the Scheveningen Prison in the Netherlands for nearly nine months now, after the Marcos government surrendered him to the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity of murder linked to his brutal war on drugs and the alleged Davao Death Squad.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHY IS DUTERTE ELIGIBLE TO REQUEST CONDITIONAL RELEASE?</strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176430169736320250314-duterte-pre-trial-chamber-ICC.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>ICC handout</em></span></span></span><br/></strong></div><p>According to the ICC, a defendant — like Duterte, who is still awaiting trial and is still considered a suspect — is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.</p><p>Since defendants are presumed innocent, the court said that there must be a &quot;strong justification&quot; to hold them under ICC custody.</p><p>&quot;ICC judges examine whether the defendant may not appear before the judges, may create obstacles for the investigations or pose a threat to the safety of witnesses and victims, or may be committing certain alleged crimes under ICC&#x27;s jurisdiction,&quot; it said in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/25295695110069559">video explainer</a>.</p><p>If Duterte&#x27;s bid for an interim release is rejected, the decision is periodically reviewed at least every 120 days and &quot;may be reviewed at any time at the request of the detained person or the Prosecution,&quot; the ICC <a href="https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/2023-03/understanding-the-icc.pdf">said</a>.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/27/duterte-stoically-awaiting-icc-ruling-on-appeal-for-interim-release-lawyer-says-1653">Duterte &#x27;stoically awaiting&#x27; ICC ruling on appeal for interim release, lawyer says</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/28/the-netherlands-eyed-as-host-country-if-duterte-granted-interim-release-says-lawyer-2209">FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Netherlands eyed as &#x27;host country&#x27; if Duterte granted interim release, says lawyer</a></div><p>Duterte&#x27;s family and his supporters have been campaigning for his release from detention and return to the Philippines — a wish that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/2/duterte-unlikely-to-return-to-ph-says-icc-victims-counsel-1409">may be unlikely</a>, lawyer Maria Kristina Conti, assistant to counsel at the ICC, had said.</p><p>She pointed out that the ICC is well aware that the alleged crimes occurred in the Philippines, where his family still holds substantial political influence.</p><p>In a Facebook post on Friday, Conti said that the upcoming decision of the Appeals Chamber on Duterte&#x27;s interim release would not affect his main case.</p><p>&quot;Nasa loob man o labas ng ICC detention facility si Duterte, pwede namang magtuloy-tuloy ang mga hearing - kung sakaling makuha na ang go signal matapos pagpasyahan ang iba pang mga request ni Duterte,&quot; Conti said.</p><p>&quot;Pero malaking bagay na nasa loob si Duterte para tuloy-tuloy ang kaso,&quot; she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/13/sws-most-filipinos-want-duterte-held-accountable-for-drug-war-deaths-0910">SWS: Most Filipinos want Duterte held accountable for drug war deaths</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CONFIRMATION OF CHARGES</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176430183664220250314-duterte-icc-medialdea-ICC-3_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>ICC handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>Duterte was supposed to face a confirmation of charges hearing on September 23, but it was postponed by the Pre-Trial Chamber I following a request from Duterte, whose team claimed he is <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/icc-postpones-duterte-s-confirmation-of-charges-hearing-1938">not fit to stand trial</a>. </p><p>In the confirmation of charges hearing, judges examine if there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.</p><p>The majority of that ICC chamber granted a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/icc-postpones-duterte-s-confirmation-of-charges-hearing-1938">limited postponement of Duterte&#x27;s confirmation of charges hearing</a> to allow sufficient time to adjudicate the request and related matters, according to the court.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/17/icc-orders-medical-exam-on-duterte-2007">ICC orders medical exam on Duterte</a></div><p>The chamber may set another date for the confirmation of charges hearing once issues in the case have been addressed, it said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/23/icc-rejects-duterte-s-jurisdiction-challenge-2355">ICC rejects Duterte&#x27;s jurisdiction challenge</a></div><p>The Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC announced on November 14 that it had already chosen the medical experts who would assess whether Duterte is fit to stand trial.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/20/-cardinal-after-icc-rejected-duterte-interim-release-managot-ang-dapat-managot-1618?fbclid=IwY2xjawOU85BleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFNb09RZmNoanNmTkF6YkUzc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsz4b5KWYCFkOgiMlEH8Eq-iVnMFLQBpjL1Y-Jg3CZJEWztKVHddnc533oPO_aem_QadrWEnxDzc1fCEmb8-3zw">Cardinal David after ICC rejected Duterte interim release: &#x27;Managot ang dapat managot&#x27;</a></div><p>The doctors must submit their medical report on Duterte&#x27;s health by <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/15/icc-puts-duterte-s-fitness-test-back-on-track-with-december-deadline-0845">December 5</a>, it said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NV13-sRQWA8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y2L_YxryOu0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Here are the facts you need to know about former President Rodrigo Duterte's case before the ICC as the court's Appeals Chamber is set to deliver today its ruling on his camp's petition for a conditional release.</p>

Here are the facts you need to know about former President Rodrigo Duterte's case before the ICC as the court's Appeals Chamber is set to deliver today its ruling on his camp's petition for a conditional release.

ICC delivers judgment on Duterte's appeal for interim release: Where to watch, other facts

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ICC delivers judgment on Duterte's appeal for interim release: Where to watch, other facts

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 28, 2025 06:25 AM PHT

|

Updated Nov 28, 2025 02:18 PM PHT

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Rodrigo Duterte

ICC

International Criminal Court

Interim Release

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