Marilyn Cahatol

Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s initial appearance took place on Friday, 14 March 2025, at 14:00 hours (The Hague local time), before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court").

Article (news)

Initial appearance of Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175922405563220250314-duterte-pre-trial-chamber-ICC-2 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s initial appearance took place on Friday, 14 March 2025, at 14:00 hours (The Hague local time), before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (&quot;ICC&quot; or &quot;Court&quot;). </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday said the claim former president Rodrigo Duterte was found unconscious inside the detention facility of the International Criminal Court multiple times may be a strategy to delay his confirmation of charges hearing. </p><p>“Palagay ko iyan ay dahilan lang nila para ma-delay ang confirmation of charges hearing, at the same time, makakuha sila ng simpatya para sa interim release na nilalakad nila,” Trillanes told ANC’s Dateline.</p><p>The former senator said it is nearly impossible for the ICC to grant Duterte of interim release. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/30/icc-prosecutor-argues-against-duterte-s-release-citing-delays-and-ongoing-risk-0728">ICC Prosecutor argues against Duterte&#x27;s release, citing delays and ongoing risk</a></div><p>He said ICC has only granted interim release to a handful of accused individuals, with terminal illness or medical emergency or procedure that are beyond the capability of the detention facility’s in-house medical team. </p><p>The interim release, he added, is granted for those accused of minor offenses, not criminal cases like Duterte’s crime against humanity. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/30/victims-counsel-rejects-duterte-s-bid-for-freedom-citing-no-change-in-circumstances-0610">Victims&#x27; counsel rejects Duterte&#x27;s bid for freedom, citing &#x27;no change in circumstances&#x27;</a></div><p>Trillanes said he believes the former president’s family, including Vice President Sara Duterte, is lying about his alleged incidents of passing out inside ICC.</p><p>&quot;Alam nyo po kasi itong Duterte family, sanay ito mambudol. Yan ang kanilang go-to tactic politically, magsinungaling, mangloko. Kaya ako naman, ito ang ginagawa ko, binabasag ko ang mambudol na yun,&quot; he said.</p><p>Sara previously claimed her father was found <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/27/sara-duterte-claims-father-was-found-unconscious-on-detention-room-floor-1729">unconscious</a> inside the detention facility.</p><p>In a Senate session on Tuesday, Sen. Robinhood Padilla said Duterte is now showing signs of dementia.</p><p>“Sa kasalukuyan po, eh siya po ay meron ng tinatawag nating early signs of dementia. Kaya sana lang po malinawan po namin ito,” he said after lamenting Trillanes’ visit to Duterte.</p><p>Duterte’s defense team submitted medical reports citing “cognitive impairment,” to prove the former president is legally incompetent to stand a trial. </p><p>This, the defense team said in their document, was also at issue on their request to suspend adjudication on interim release.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/30/duterte-s-defense-submits-medical-reports-citing-cognitive-impairment-to-court-0659">Duterte’s defense submits medical reports citing &#x27;cognitive impairment&#x27; to Court</a></div><div><br/></div><p>&#x27;<strong>ICC DETENTION FACILITY LIKE A COUNTRY CLUB&#x27;</strong></p><p>Trillanes, who recently visited ICC in The Hague, the Netherlands, likened the international court’s detention facility to a “country club” with a medical team, ambulance unit on standby, comfortable rooms, comfort rooms, and common facilities including kitchen and a recreational area. </p><p>“Ang sitwasyon nila doon, hindi ito selda-selda. Parang country club lang ito. May komportable silang kwarto, may banyo sa loob, may common facility sila, may kitchen sila, may recreational area. Lahat ng pwede nilang gawin para maglibang, meron doon,” he said.</p><p>Trillanes added that the former president has a communication access to his family members anytime, and has no visitation limit.</p><p>He said: “Tapos meron access si Duterte sa kanyang pamilya 24/7 sa telepono. Tapos wala ding limit ang bisita kay Duterte. Kaya re-review-hin nyo ang mga interview nila pag tuwing bumibisita sila kay Duterte, malalaman nyo na okay ang kalagayan, maganda ang usapan, then suddenly ngayon may historical na tatlong beses na hinimatay o ano pa man. Kaya ako, duda ako sa truthfulness ng sinasabi nila na yan.”</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/9/29/dutch-authorities-respond-as-icc-reviews-duterte-s-interim-release-request-0636">Dutch authorities respond as ICC reviews Duterte’s interim release request<br/></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rn2OGud27os?si=0cKL2j6AJ_KJ65UY" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday said the claim former president Rodrigo Duterte was found unconscious inside the detention facility of the International Criminal Court multiple times may be a strategy to delay his confirmation of charges hearing.</p>

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday said the claim former president Rodrigo Duterte was found unconscious inside the detention facility of the International Criminal Court multiple times may be a strategy to delay his confirmation of charges hearing.

Trillanes believes Duterte's 'poor health condition' a trick to delay confirmation of charges

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Trillanes believes Duterte's 'poor health condition' a trick to delay confirmation of charges

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 30, 2025 05:49 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

ICC

interim release

Sara Duterte

The Hague

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.