THE confirmation of charges hearing in the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands will begin on February 23.
According to the ICC website, the confirmation of charges proceedings will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time in The Hague (5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Philippine time) before Pre-Trial Chamber I at Courtroom I.
Subsequent hearings are scheduled on February 24, February 26, and February 27.
During the proceedings, the prosecution, the defense, and legal representatives of the victims will each present their arguments before the judges.
“The purpose of the confirmation of charges hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the person committed each of the crimes charged,” the ICC said.
The court added that if one or more charges are confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber, which will handle the next stage of the proceedings — the full trial.
The ICC also noted that the schedule may still change depending on how the hearings progress.
The proceedings will be available for public viewing online with a 30-minute delay via the ICC website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.
The case is linked to the ICC’s investigation into alleged crimes against humanity connected to the Philippine government’s anti-illegal drug campaign during Duterte’s presidency from 2016 to 2022, as well as earlier anti-crime operations when he served as mayor of Davao City.
The Philippines formally withdrew from the ICC in 2019 under Duterte’s administration.
However, the tribunal has maintained jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member of the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the court.
The confirmation of charges hearing is a crucial stage in ICC proceedings, as judges assess whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
A confirmation does not determine guilt but allows the prosecution to formally pursue the charges in court.
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