Duterte also waives right to attend hearing to review his ICC detention on Feb. 27
Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte has waived his right to attend the annual hearing scheduled on Feb. 27, 2026 that would review his current detention at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
In a letter to the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC dated Feb. 23, 2026, Duterte signified his intention to waive his right to attend the annual hearing that would have reviewed his continued detention.
“My Counsel has explained to me the legal consequences emanating from such a waiver and I trust him and my ICC legal team to represent me fully,” Duterte told the Chamber.
He also said that he did not “wish to follow this hearing from outside the courtroom through the use of communications technology.”
There was no reason given in the Feb. 23-dated letter why the former president opted to skip the annual hearing.
The ICC has yet to render a ruling on Duterte’s latest request to skip a legal procedure being conducted in connection to charges of crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder.
Duterte had also waived his right to be present during the ongoing Confirmation of Charges hearing, which is on its second day.