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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Drug war victims dismayed over postponement of Duterte's ICC hearing

Drug war victims dismayed over postponement of Duterte's ICC hearing

Published Sep 9, 2025 12:02 pm  |  Updated Sep 9, 2025 01:15 pm
Former president Rodrigo Duterte in the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, following his March 11 arrest on a warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity. (Photos from AP, Veronica Duterte)
Former president Rodrigo Duterte in the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, following his March 11 arrest on a warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity. (Photos from AP, Veronica Duterte)

The victims of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war expressed their dismay over the order of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I (PTC I) to postpone the confirmation of charges hearing against the ex-chief executive initially scheduled on Sept. 23 to 26.

A statement from the Rise Up for Life and for Rights and National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) on Tuesday, Sept. 9, said that they will “push for the resetting of the hearing soonest, and for any other available remedies.”

It argued that the former president, who his defense team said was not fit for trial as the reason for its adjournment request, can waive his right to be present in the hearing “per Rule 124 of the ICC Rules of Procedure and Evidence” and assign his lawyers to represent him.

“Both the prosecution and the victims teams are ready for the hearing. Victims have applied and are currently being assessed if qualified to participate in the case. They are eager to join the proceedings, in the hope that they can finally attain justice in the end,” the statement, posted by ICC-registered Assistant Counsel Kristina Conti, said.

The group, led by lawyer Neri Colmenares, also warned against falling for Duterte’s “tactic.”

“Duterte is notorious for drama and antics of obfuscation. And Filipinos have seen this tactic one time too many,” the statement said.

“We will not fall for a desperate, time-worn, and calculated ploy to paint himself aggrieved. Fitness for trial is a factual matter that can and should be decided soonest, so that trial on the merits can proceed,” it stressed.

On Monday, Sept. 8, the ICC’s pre-trial chamber announced the postponement of the Sept. 23 hearing. Of the three judges, Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera dissented from the majority.

The chamber cited the Aug. 18 filing by Duterte’s defense team requesting for an “indefinite adjournment” of the confirmation of charges because the former president “is not fit to stand trial.”

While it did not give a specific timeline, the Chamber said that it will “issue a scheduling order, including a specific date for and directions regarding the conduct of the hearing on the confirmation of charges, in due course.”

The former president, who has been detained in The Hague, Netherlands since March, has yet to be seen by the public since his first appearance before the PTC I to confirm his identity and set the date for the confirmation of charges hearing.

Duterte faces crimes against humanity of murder charges for allegedly architecting his administration’s brutal war on drugs campaign, which killed thousands of mostly impoverished Filipinos.

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