Duterte to skip last hearing before trial

MANILA, Philippines — After appearing in-person at the last two pre-trial hearings, former president Rodrigo Duterte will skip the fifth status conference tomorrow in his crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court.

The ICC Trial Chamber III approved Duterte’s request to skip what could be the last status conference before the start of his trial on Nov. 30.

He submitted a waiver of appearance and instructed his lawyers to address the procedural matters listed in the agenda, as well as other issues that may be discussed during the hearing.

Duterte, who has been detained in The Hague since March 2025, attended in-person the third and fourth status conferences held on Sept. 16 and Oct. 13, respectively.

He was not asked to make any statement and mostly listened to the proceedings.

According to the agenda released by the court, the fifth status conference will cover the daily sitting schedule; the audio-visual link testimony and the rights of the audience; list of witnesses and the number of hours for the prosecution’s evidence and potentially exculpatory evidence.

The agenda also includes applications on prior recorded testimonies, in-court protective measures and security of defense missions.

Duterte is facing three counts of crimes against humanity charges over alleged extrajudicial judicial killings during his administration’s so-called war on drugs, as well as those committed by the so-called Davao death squad when he was mayor or vice mayor of Davao City.

At least eight other individuals have been named co-perpetrators, including Sens. Ronald Dela Rosa and Bong Go; former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II; former police chiefs Oscar Albayalde, Camilo Cascolan (deceased) and Vicente Danao; former National Bureau of Investigation director Dante Gierran and former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Isidro Lapeña.

A warrant has been issued against Dela Rosa, who is currently in hiding.