‘I am old, tired, and frail’: Rodrigo Duterte

‘I am old, tired, and frail’: Rodrigo Duterte | Daily Tribune

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte has waived his right to attend the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmation of charges hearing scheduled for 23 to 27 February, citing that he is “old, tired, and frail.”

In a formal letter dated 17 February, Duterte said he understands the consequences of waiving his right to attend the hearing and that he trusts his counsel to challenge the sufficiency of the Prosecution’s evidence on his behalf. He added that he does not wish to follow the proceedings from outside the courtroom through communications technology, similar to what occurred during his initial appearance before Pre-Trial Chamber I on 14 March 2025.

Duterte outlined three reasons in his letter. First, he reiterated that he does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over his person, claiming that his transfer to The Hague was in violation of the Philippine Constitution and national sovereignty.

“I am a Filipino citizen forcibly pushed into a jet and rendered to The Hague in the Netherlands in flagrant contravention of my country’s Constitution and of national sovereignty,” he said.

He further claimed that his “kidnapping was facilitated by the office of the incumbent President of the Philippines, using a plane specially chartered for the purpose."

Second, Duterte rejected allegations that he oversaw a policy of extrajudicial killings, calling the claim “an outrageous lie.” He said the accusations have long been pushed by his political opponents and are based on statements from individuals whose credibility, he claimed, has been thoroughly discredited.

As his final reason, Duterte cited his age and declining condition.

“I do not wish to attend legal proceedings that I will forget within minutes. I am old, tired, and frail,” he wrote.

The confirmation of charges hearing will determine whether the case against Duterte, linking him to alleged crimes against humanity committed during his anti-drug campaign, will proceed to trial.