The initial appearance of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to take place at 9 p.m. on Friday, March 14 (Manila time), the court said.
According to the ICC website, the public hearing will be broadcast with a 30-minute delay.
The 79-year-old Duterte has appointed former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea as “one of my counsel[s] in the ICC proceedings.”
He also requested that Medialdea assist him at the ICC appearance, in addition to the Office of Public Counsel.
Pre-Trial Chamber I comprises Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc (presiding judge), with Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera.
During the initial appearance hearing, the judges will verify “the identity of the suspect and the language in which he is able to follow the proceeding.”
He will likewise be informed of the charges against him and his rights under the ICC Rome Statute.
The former president was arrested by Philippine authorities, with the assistance of Interpol, on March 11 upon the issuance of an arrest warrant by the ICC. He was surrendered to the custody of the ICC on March 12.
Duterte is suspected of murder qualified as a crime against humanity, allegedly committed between Nov. 1, 2011, when he was still mayor of Davao City, and March 16, 2019, when he became president and when the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands said they have spoken to the former president, who conveyed that he was in generally good condition.
According to the Embassy, Duterte wished to talk with a consular officer. During the call, he conveyed, among others, “that he underwent medical check-up and has received medical care and that he is generally fine.”
Duterte also requested a visit by Embassy consular officials and asked the Embassy to assist in the request for a visit by his legal counsel and family members. (Argyll Geducos)
