Former President Rodrigo Duterte has officially waived his right to be present at the International Criminal Court’s upcoming confirmation of charges hearings related to his administration’s war on illegal drugs.
According to a GMA Integrated News report, Duterte informed the ICC that he will not attend the hearings scheduled from February 23 to 27, citing several reasons, including his continued refusal to acknowledge the court’s authority over him.
In the document dated February 17, Duterte, who is now 80 years old, said he does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction and claimed he was forcibly brought to The Hague.
“I do not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over my person. I am a Filipino citizen forcibly pushed into a jet and renditioned to The Hague in the Netherlands in flagrant contravention of my country’s Constitution and of national sovereignty. My kidnapping was facilitated by the office of the incumbent President of the Philippines with a plane specially chartered for this purpose,” he said.
The notification was submitted to ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I on Wednesday, February 18. Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, provided a copy of the filing to GMA Integrated News.
Duterte also denied accusations that he led a government policy involving unlawful killings, calling the allegations against him fabricated and politically driven.
He described claims that he oversaw “a policy of extra-judicial killings” as an “outrageous lie.”
“These claims have been peddled by my political opponents for many years and, as my nation knows, they are based on the word of individuals whose credibility has been thoroughly discredited,” Duterte said.
In the same filing, Duterte pointed to his age and health as additional reasons for refusing to appear, saying he does not want to take part in proceedings he believes he would not be able to properly follow.
“I am old, tired and frail. I wish for this Court to respect my peace inside the cell it has placed me. I have accepted the fact that I could die in prison. But those that desire this fate for me should know that my heart and soul will always remain in the Philippines,” he said.
Despite the accusations against him, Duterte insisted he remains proud of what he described as his legacy and service to Filipinos.
“Let no one doubt my love for and loyalty to the Filipino nation. Kaninyo, ako, magpabiling suluguon (To you, I will remain a servant),” Duterte said.
He also said he understands the consequences of waiving his right to attend the confirmation of charges hearing, adding that the decision was explained to him by his legal counsel.
“I trust him and his team to challenge the sufficiency of the Prosecution’s evidence on my behalf. I do not wish to follow these proceedings from outside the courtroom through the use of communications technology,” he added.
Earlier, Kaufman also said Duterte will not participate in the hearings through video conference.
The waiver comes after the ICC released the Document Containing the Charges submitted by prosecutors, which included a list of individuals identified as Duterte’s alleged co-perpetrators in the anti-illegal drugs campaign, including Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.
