Duterte skipping next court session
The 81-year-old ex-president Rodrigo Duterte was clad in a white button-down polo and a black collared jacket, with his face framed by a white third beard and eyebrows, as he appeared in the ICC courtroom for the third status conference on Wednesday, 16 September, before this trial in November.
International Criminal Court
After attending two of four earlier status conferences, former president Rodrigo Duterte will skip the next one, the fifth.
Duterte has waived his attendance at the International Criminal Court (ICC) hearing on 2 November. His trial on three counts of crimes against humanity is set to open on 30 November.
The former president waived his right to attend the next status conference in a filing dated 30 October.
His defense team submitted his signed waiver after the ICC Trial Chamber directed that the document be placed on record.
His counsel said it informed the chamber on 28 October of Duterte’s decision to waive his attendance. The judges granted the request the following day.
Under the waiver, Duterte authorized his lawyers to address the procedural matters listed on the status conference agenda, as well as other matters that may arise during the hearing.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity involving murder and attempted murder allegedly committed in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019.
The first count covers alleged murders in Davao City during his mayoral term from 2013 to June 2016. The second involves alleged murders of individuals classified as “high-value targets” in various locations across the country between July 2016 and July 2017 when he was president.
The third count concerns alleged murders and attempted murders during barangay clearance operations nationwide between July 2016 and September 2018.
At the opening of the trial, judges will verify whether Duterte understands the charges and ask him whether he admits guilt or pleads not guilty.
Prosec’s turn
The chamber will then hear the opening statements of the prosecution and the Common Legal Representatives of Victims, allotted six hours and three hours, respectively. The defense may also deliver an opening statement.
The first prosecution witness is scheduled to testify after the opening statements conclude.
The hearings will be held in four daily sessions: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., based on The Hague’s local time.
The proceedings will be streamed through the ICC website, Facebook accounts, and YouTube channel, with a 30-minute delay.