Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

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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/177190629955754385350737_211c2b80ff_c.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber I judges. <em>Screen grab from ICC livestream</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber I on Monday concluded the first day of the pre-trial or confirmation of charges hearings into the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>The four-day proceedings will determine whether Duterte&#x27;s case will be brought to a full trial.</p><div><br/></div><div><u><strong>Here are key points from Monday&#x27;s hearing:</strong></u></div><div><br/></div><p><strong>1.</strong> ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang accused Duterte of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/icc-opens-duterte-confirmation-of-charges-hearings-1718">personally authorizing murders and hand-picking some of the victims</a> of his brutal anti-drug campaign, saying the former leader played a &quot;pivotal&quot; role in the alleged extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers and users. </p><p><strong>2.</strong> Prosecutors told judges that Duterte is charged with over 49 incidents of murder and attempted murder involving 78 victims, including children, which were<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/icc-opens-duterte-confirmation-of-charges-hearings-1718"> &quot;merely a fraction&quot;</a> of the killings. </p><p><strong>3.</strong> ICC prosecutor Julian Nicholls accused Duterte of creating &quot;death squads&quot; composed of police officers and hired gunmen, alleging that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/24/prosecutors-defense-lawyers-clash-on-day-1-of-icc-confirmation-hearings-0835">one cannot kill &quot;without Duterte&#x27;s approval,&quot;</a> citing a witness.</p><p><strong>4.</strong> Nicholls further alleged that some <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/24/prosecutors-defense-lawyers-clash-on-day-1-of-icc-confirmation-hearings-0835">hitmen were placed on the city payroll as so-called ghost employees</a>. &quot;They received salaries from the city of Davao… but it was all a ruse because their only job was to kill,&quot; he said.</p><p><strong>5.</strong> The families of the victims of the alleged extrajudicial killings warned the ICC that there is <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/victims-counsel-warns-of-risks-if-charges-against-duterte-are-not-confirmed-1900">&quot;no other recourse&quot; </a>for them to achieve justice should judges decide not to confirm the charges against Duterte.</p><p><strong>6</strong>. Victims&#x27; legal counsel Joel Butuyan said Duterte converted &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/victims-counsel-warns-of-risks-if-charges-against-duterte-are-not-confirmed-1900">millions of peace-loving citizens into bloodthirsty disciples</a> who have become converts to the belief that violence and killings are valid solutions to societal problems.&quot; </p><p><strong>7.</strong> Duterte&#x27;s defense team urged the ICC to dismiss the charges against him, which they consider &quot;grievously misplaced&quot; and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/duterte-maintains-his-innocence-absolutely-says-kaufman-1949">&quot;politically-motivated.&quot;</a> </p><p><strong>8.</strong> The former president also &quot;absolutely&quot; <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/duterte-maintains-his-innocence-absolutely-says-kaufman-1949">maintains his innocence</a>, and &quot;stands behind his legacy resolutely,&quot; according to his defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman.</p><p><strong>9.</strong> Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sought to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/kaufman-says-marcos-set-out-to-neutralize-duterte-and-his-legacy-2114">&quot;neutralize&quot; his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte and his legacy</a>, Kaufman claimed, adding that the former leader &quot;was unconstitutionally and unceremoniously hauled off to The Hague.&quot;</p><p><strong>10.</strong> Duterte, who was not in court after waiving his right to appear, has no reason not to be present during his confirmation of charges hearing, an ICC prosecutor said, adding that the former president is &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/duterte-is-perfectly-fine-to-attend-confirmation-of-charges-hearing-says-prosecution-2249">perfectly fine</a>.&quot;</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02FcyS67p4d7W9WFT3nGKvowRLzNmUDzCdaiKTQpt7AyTrgL73NAB6r4eoFtbYvi4Jl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="0" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>The chamber has scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing for Duterte to take place on February 23, 24, 26, and 27 at The Hague, the Netherlands.</p><p>Duterte&#x27;s confirmation of charges hearing was originally scheduled September 23, 2025, or five months ago, but was postponed at the request of his defense team. </p><p>Duterte will not be present, either virtually or in person, after the court allowed him to skip the hearings. He is represented by his lead counsel, Kaufman, and a host of other lawyers. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/24/prosecution-urges-icc-to-reject-duterte-camp-s-bizarre-request-to-disclose-witness-whereabouts-1052">Prosecution urges ICC to reject Duterte camp’s ‘bizarre’ request to disclose witness whereabouts</a></div><p>ICC judges previously found that Duterte is fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings despite his camp&#x27;s assertions of his alleged cognitive decline.</p><p>The public won&#x27;t expect a decision from the judges on or immediately after the four-day hearings, as they will still have 60 days to issue a written ruling. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>— From reports by Zen Hernandez, Katrina Domingo, Marilyn Cahatol, Rose Carmelle Lacuata, Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News, and Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/><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/stMa3DmoTQQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><strong></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/OM9L6D9f-ss?&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/QcW_22vJ3Vs?&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/j-YLEyFSkbI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div> </div>

<p>The International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber I on Monday concluded the first day of the pre-trial or confirmation of charges hearings into the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Here are key points from Monday's hearing.</p>

The International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber I on Monday concluded the first day of the pre-trial or confirmation of charges hearings into the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Here are key points from Monday's hearing.

LIST: Key points from Duterte's first ICC pre-trial hearing

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LIST: Key points from Duterte's first ICC pre-trial hearing

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 24, 2026 12:33 PM PHT

|

Updated February 26, 2026 11:07 AM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

Confirmation of Charges

Confirmation of Charges Hearing

ICC

International Criminal Court

Crimes Against Humanity

Drug War

War On Drugs

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