Former president Rodrigo Duterte has waived his right to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) as it delivers its ruling today, November 28, on his defense team’s appeal of an earlier decision denying his bid for interim release.
In a notification filed on Thursday, November 27, Duterte’s legal counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, submitted Duterte’s “signed waiver of his right to be present” during the hearing.
“I, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, respectfully waive my right to appear before the Appeals Chamber on 28 November 2025 at 10:30 and, consequently, instruct my lawyers to hear the judgment that will be rendered on my appeal against Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision on interim release – ICC-01/21-01/25-282,” the waiver read.
The appeals chamber is expected to announce its judgment at 10:30 a.m. in The Hague (5:30 p.m. in Manila) today.
On September 26, Pre-Trial Chamber I denied the Defense’s request for Duterte’s interim release and ordered that he remain in detention.
Duterte has been held at the ICC since March, after being brought to The Hague following his arrest on a warrant issued in connection with alleged crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s brutal ‘War on Drugs’ campaign.
