Camille Naredo

A person stands by two life-size cartboard cutouts 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. Simon Wohlfahrt, AFP/File

A person stands by two life-size cartboard cutouts 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)

DUTERTE-ICC

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1779020364863AFP__20260223__98LT4J3__v1__MidRes__NetherlandsPhilippinesIccPoliticsJusticeDemo.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A person stands by two life-size cartboard cutouts 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. Simon Wohlfahrt, AFP/File" width="960"/>A person stands by two life-size cardboard cutouts 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. Simon Wohlfahrt, AFP/File</div>MANILA -- Lawyer Kristina Conti said the appeal filed by the new defense lawyer of Rodrigo Duterte may cause delays in case of the former president before the International Criminal Court.Duterte’s defense counsel, Peter Haynes, recently sought another fitness review for Duterte, claiming that former president’s condition “continues to deteriorate.&quot;&quot;&#x27;Yung mga victims the soonest possible (ihold na ang trial) &#x27;yun ang gusto namin,&quot; said Conti, ICC assistant to counsel, in an interview on DZMM Teleradyo on Sunday.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/16/duterte-s-new-icc-lawyer-seeks-another-fitness-review-1843">Duterte&#x27;s new ICC lawyer seeks another fitness review </a> </div>&quot;(Pero) sabi ng Defense &#x27;wait lang,&#x27; at nagbigay pa siya ng examples kung saan na more than one year from this time to trial. Sabi namin eto na nga... Hindi lang siya nagtantya, mukhang indefinite pa kasi kailangang magbigay ng panahon sa bagong counsel at yung fitness to trial binabalikan na naman,&quot; she added.If Duterte is found to be fit to stand trial, Haynes sought a trial preparation time ranging from &quot;14 to 19 months.&quot;Conti said families of the victims could not help but feel that the Defense is delaying the case on purpose.&quot;Kaya kami ang hirap magbigay ng good faith, &#x27;yung hindi mo iisipan ng masama agad kasi ganito na naman ang nangyari sa &#x27;tin,&quot; she said. &quot;&#x27;Yung ganitong dito na naman tayo, ginagamit yung pagkakataon para hindi matuloy tuloy ang trial. Antagal nating inaasam ito (ang trial) eh ganito pala ang aabutan natin. The prosecution, for its part, pushed for the commencement of Duterte&#x27;s trial on November 30, 2026.This was after the ICC judges confirmed crimes against humanity charges against Duterte tied to his war on drugs.But Duterte&#x27;s camp has decided to hire another legal counsel in Haynes, replacing Nicholas Kaufman.Haynes entry to the picture has obvious effects on Duterte&#x27;s case, said Conti.&quot;May epekto yan in the sense ng strategy,&quot; she said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/12/profile-who-is-peter-haynes-duterte-s-new-icc-lawyer-1854">PROFILE: Who is Peter Haynes, Duterte&#x27;s new ICC lawyer? </a> </div>&quot;(Pero) tingin ko magaling enough ang abogado na maka adjust agad. Within the year dapat magsimula na agad ang trial kasi nakausad na, titigil pa ba ngayun pa?&quot; Conti added.The worst thing that could happen based on Haynes&#x27; appeal, said Conti, is that if the ICC judges change their minds regarding Duterte&#x27;s health. &quot;Kung anumang mangyari sa kanya, hihinto ang trial. &#x27;Yung ang pinakamalalang maaring mangyari,&quot; said the human rights lawyer.&quot;Pero ako may tiwala ako sa mga experts na tumingin sa kanya. &#x27;Yung mga independent experts.&quot;

Lawyer Kristina Conti said the appeal filed by the new defense lawyer of Rodrigo Duterte may cause delays in case of the former president before the International Criminal Court.

Lawyer Kristina Conti said the appeal filed by the new defense lawyer of Rodrigo Duterte may cause delays in case of the former president before the International Criminal Court.

Delays possible in Duterte's ICC case following Haynes' appeal, says Conti

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Delays possible in Duterte's ICC case following Haynes' appeal, says Conti

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 17, 2026 08:25 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

ICC

War on drugs

Kristina Conti

Peter Haynes

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