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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Leila says waiver-letter for ICC hearing sounds so un-Rody; here's why

Leila says waiver-letter for ICC hearing sounds so un-Rody; here's why

Published Feb 19, 2026 02:47 pm

At A Glance

  • Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima is convinced that former president Rodrigo Duterte didn't personally write the letter wherein he waived his right to appear in an International Criminal Court (ICC) hearing next week for the confirmation of his charges.
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (left), former president Rodrigo Duterte (Facebook)
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (left), former president Rodrigo Duterte (Facebook)


Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima is convinced that former president Rodrigo Duterte didn't personally write the letter wherein he waived his right to appear in an International Criminal Court (ICC) hearing next week for the confirmation of his charges.
De Lima, chairperson of the Liberal Party (LP), the letter was so unlike the Duterte she knew.
"The statement was obviously not prepared by Duterte. Duterte does not speak in such controlled manner. Duterte would have boasted that he implemented the drug war to save his country, rather than deny that any state-sponsored mass execution ever happened," she said.
Speaking for ex-Philippine leader these past few months has been his British-Israeli defense attorney, Nicholas Kaufman. Duterte has been detained by the ICC at The Hague in the Netherlands for the past 11 months.
De Lima recalled the demeanor of the tough-talking Duterte during his presidency between 2016 and 2022.
"Duterte never denied the substance of his drug war. He always boasted about killing and ordering the killing of drug war victims. His own past statements and admissions are the very evidence of his guilt of the crime against humanity he is charged with.
"For him to say now that he did not order killings is an act of outright contempt for all Filipinos who lived through the nightmare of his drug war," the deputy minority leader said.
At any rate, De Lima said Duterte's waiver was proof that he was "of sound mind".
"Its legal effect is based on the premise that he understood the statement so as to affix his signature to it. It is evidence against Kaufman's own argument that Duterte is not fit to stand trial because he is supposedly unable to give instructions for his defense," she said.
"The statement is clear evidence that Duterte is able to defend himself. The statement is meant to serve both as propaganda and legal strategy. It is propaganda as it projects a defiant Duterte but at the same time appeals to the emotion by saying he already expects to die inside prison," added De Lima, a lawyer.
"It is legal strategy because Duterte's appearance will not serve any positive purpose but might endanger his defense in case Kaufman is not able to control him before the ICC judges, as Duterte is famous for his outbursts in whatever venue regardless of the solemnity of the occasion," she further said.
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