THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Lawyers for former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte have asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to schedule breaks during his upcoming trial to allow his family to visit him in detention, citing the long travel distance from the Philippines and the importance of family contact to his mental well-being.
Lead defense counsel Peter Haynes made the request before ICC Trial Chamber III on Tuesday, October 13, during the fourth status conference in Duterte’s case. The trial is scheduled to begin on November 30.
DEFENSE SEEKS BREAKS BETWEEN HEARING BLOCKS
Haynes proposed organizing the trial into blocks of hearings separated by breaks, allowing Duterte’s relatives sufficient time to arrange travel to The Hague.
He noted that the journey from Davao City to the Netherlands takes approximately 30 hours, making frequent visits difficult to coordinate, particularly for family members with professional and academic commitments.
The defense lawyer said the request was not simply a matter of convenience but also concerned the former president’s welfare while in ICC custody.
FAMILY CONTACT CITED AS CRUCIAL TO DUTERTE’S WELL-BEING
Haynes emphasized the importance of family visits, referring to medical evidence previously submitted to the court concerning Duterte’s mental well-being.
He also pointed out that some of Duterte’s relatives hold elected positions, while another is studying law, requiring their schedules to be arranged well in advance.
The defense argued that a continuous hearing schedule could limit opportunities for family members to travel to the Netherlands and visit the former president.
ICC JUDGES YET TO DECIDE ON REQUEST
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner said the chamber would consider the defense’s proposal but had not yet reached a final decision on the requested arrangements.
The court has outlined a preliminary schedule for the trial’s opening week, from November 30 to December 4, with multiple hearing sessions each day and breaks in between.
The final arrangements will determine whether additional intervals can be accommodated to facilitate family visits without unduly disrupting the proceedings.
DUTERTE ATTENDS FOURTH STATUS CONFERENCE
Duterte personally attended Tuesday’s status conference in The Hague, where he has been detained since March 2025 following his transfer to ICC custody.
The former president faces three counts of crimes against humanity involving alleged murder and attempted murder linked to killings during anti-drug operations carried out while he was mayor of Davao City and later president of the Philippines.
He has repeatedly defended his anti-drug campaign, while the allegations against him remain subject to proceedings before the international tribunal.
ICC CASE AGAINST DUTERTE
The ICC is investigating alleged crimes against humanity associated with Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. The court maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was still a party to the Rome Statute, before the country’s withdrawal took effect in March 2019.
The upcoming trial will examine the charges against Duterte, with the court expected to determine the schedule and procedures for presenting evidence and hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defense.