Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

A person stands by a life-size cartboard cutout of former Philippines' president Rodrigo Duterte during a demonstration in his support outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he will be questioned on charges of crimes against humanity, in The Hague on February 23, 2026. As the 80-year-old will not be present at the hearing after the court granted a defence request to waive his right to appear, despite judges ruling that he was fit to take part, the "confirmation of charges" hearing, taking place over four days, will determine whether there is enough evidence against Duterte to proceed to a trial. (Photo by Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP)

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

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/1771900978651AFP__20260223__98LF76K__v1__HighRes__NetherlandsPhilippinesIccPoliticsJusticeDemo.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A person stands by a life-size cardboard cutout of former Philippines&#x27; president Rodrigo Duterte during a demonstration in his support outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he will be questioned on charges of crimes against humanity, in The Hague on February 23, 2026. Photo by Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>THE HAGUE, The Netherlands — The prosecution panel urged the International Criminal Court to reject former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team’s request to disclose information on the whereabouts of witnesses in the crimes against humanity case against the former Philippine leader.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/24/prosecutors-defense-lawyers-clash-on-day-1-of-icc-confirmation-hearings-0835">Prosecutors, defense lawyers clash on Day 1 of ICC Confirmation hearings</a></div><p>The defense panel’s earlier request to reduce the redacted parts about the witnesses who are set to appear before the court is “bizarre,” Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang said in a court filing dated February 23.</p><p>“It is essential for the safety of these witnesses that their cooperation with the prosecution remain confidential,” the Office of the Prosecutor said, underscoring that it finds the defense’s inquiries about witnesses “potentially troubling.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/24/duterte-camp-drug-war-victims-supporters-satisfied-with-start-of-of-icc-hearing-0352">Duterte camp, drug war victims&#x27; supporters &#x27;satisfied&#x27; with start of ICC hearing</a></div><p>“The Prosecution notes the defense’s submission that any meaningful reference to the subject matter of their testimony will reveal their identity, and reminds the defense that any submissions which would reveal the identity of confidential prosecution witnesses must be done in private session,” it read.</p><p>“The Prosecution maintains… that it is under no obligation to declare information regarding the whereabouts and willingness of its witnesses to testify at trial at this stage of the proceedings,” the document read.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DUTERTE&#x27;S NON APPEARANCE<br/></strong></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/1771901429406Screenshot 2026-02-23 164116_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Protestors, rallying in support of the detention of former Philippine&#x27;s president Rodrigo Duterte, hold a placard which reads as &quot;Hold Duterte accountable now&quot; outside of the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he will be questioned by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity, in The Hague on February 23, 2026. Simon Wohlfahrt, AFP</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>In the same filing before the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I, the prosecution panel reiterated its objection to the chamber’s decision to allow Duterte to waive his right to attend his confirmation of charges hearing, noting that the panel even “provided a special sitting schedule to accommodate Mr. Duterte’s participation in pre-trial proceedings.”</p><p>“Mr. Duterte has yet to appear physically in the courtroom, a fact which he has repeatedly complained about,” the prosecution said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/24/-traumatic-families-of-ejk-victims-re-traumatized-on-day-1-of-duterte-icc-hearing-0737">&#x27;Traumatic&#x27;: Families of EJK victims &#x27;re-traumatized&#x27; on Day 1 of Duterte ICC hearing</a></div><p>“It is important that the public, and in particular the many victims of the alleged crimes, be able to view Mr. Duterte while he defends against the crimes he has been charged with,” it said.</p><p>“This is especially true in a case where there has been significant misinformation regarding the proceedings and Mr. Duterte’s well-being.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/icc-opens-duterte-confirmation-of-charges-hearings-1718">&#x27;Those in power are not above the law&#x27;: ICC prosecution lays down evidence vs Duterte in first pre-trial hearing</a></div><p>The prosecution&#x27;s comments against the defense panel’s last-minute request was posted on the ICC’s website after the first day of Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing.</p><p>There are 4 more days for the Pre-Trial Chamber I to decide if it would reconsider its decision of allowing the former President to skip the hearings, and require his presence before the proceedings conclude on February 27.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><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/OM9L6D9f-ss?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></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/Qf6Yj2zptIo?&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/e2GtVshPYKQ?&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/-fa8QaXYq7g?&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/k5DgiTYxZN4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The defense panel’s request to reduce the redacted parts about the witnesses who are set to appear before the court is “bizarre,” Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang said in a court filing dated February 23.</p>

The defense panel’s request to reduce the redacted parts about the witnesses who are set to appear before the court is “bizarre,” Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang said in a court filing dated February 23.

Prosecution urges ICC to reject Duterte camp’s ‘bizarre’ request to disclose witness whereabouts

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Prosecution urges ICC to reject Duterte camp’s ‘bizarre’ request to disclose witness whereabouts

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 24, 2026 10:52 AM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

International Criminal Court

crimes against humanity

confirmation of charges hearing

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