THE HAGUE, The Netherlands - Humarap si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte via video link sa International Criminal Court, kung saan lilitisin siya kaugnay sa nangyaring mga patayan sa madugong "war on drugs" na nangyari sa ilalim ng kaniyang administrasyon.Ayon kay ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah, nasa detention center si Duterte nang gawin ang unang pagdinig sa kaniyang kaso, habang nasa korte ang kaniyang abogado na si dating executive secretary Salvador Medialdea.Sinabi ni ICC Presiding Judge Lulia Motoc, pinayagan ng korte na dumalo si Duterte sa pagdinig via video link dahil ikinunsidera ang kaniyang edad na 79, at sa malayong biyahe na mula sa Pilipinas.Sa naturang pagdinig, tinanong ng hukom si Duterte ng kaniyang pangalan at kapanganakan. Binasa rin sa kaniya kung ano ang ibinibintang laban sa kaniya na didinggin ng korte.Nakasuot ng blue suit and tie si Duterte habang nakaupo nang dumalo sa pagdinig.Ipinaalam ng hukom kay Duterte ang kaniyang mga karapatan sa ilalim ng Rome Statute.Nagsimula ang pagdinig dakong 2:34 p.m. (oras sa The Hague) at nagtapos dakong 2:59 p.m.Itinakda ang susunod na pagdinig sa Sept. 23, 2025."After assessing all factors, including the need for the parties and participants to adequately prepare, as well as Mr. Duterte's rights, including his right to be tried within a reasonable time, the date for the commencement of the confirmation of charges hearing is September 23, 2025," sabi ni Motoc."I would add that in accordance with Rule 1217 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, this date may be postponed by the Chamber depending on the progress of the proceedings, either on its own motion or at the request of the prosecutor or the defense," dagdag niya.Habang ginaganap ang pagdinig, nanonood sina Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Robin Padilla, at dating presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque, sa gallery.Nandoon din si Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Jose Eduardo Malaya III.Una rito, sinabi ni Roque na magiging bahagi ng legal team ni Duterte sina Medialdea, siya, at isang British attorney na nasa listahan ng ICC counsels.Sa pagdinig kanina, tanging si Medialdea ang nagsilbi niyang abogado, kung saan ipinaalam niya sa korte na "dinukot" umano ng mga awtoridad sa Pilipinas ang dating pangulo."Two days ago, the whole world witnessed the degrading fashion in which the former president of a sovereign country was bundled into a private aircraft and somberly transported to the Hague. To us lawyers, this would be called an extrajudicial rendition," sabi ni Medialdea sa ICC court."To the less-legally inclined, this is a pure and simple kidnapping. My client was denied all access to the legal recourse in the country of his citizenship, and this all in the nature of political score-settling," dagdag niya.Inihayag din ni Medialdea wala pang isang oras na napag-usapan nila ni Duterte ang "legal issues" dahil na rin sa dinala sa ospital ang dating pangulo para obserbahan.Pero sabi ni Motoc, "There will be a full procedure that will unfurl leading up to the confirmation of charges that will enable Mr. Duterte to raise all the matters that you have just raised with regard to the warrant of arrest, with regard to the crimes committed, with regard to the charges and any other matters associated with his arrest and the matters of jurisdiction of the court.""You have the opportunity to do this throughout these proceedings leading up to the actual confirmation of charges hearing," dagdag ng hukom. — mula sa ulat ng Reuters at nina Andy Peñafuerte III, Saleema Refran, Jiselle Anne C. Casucian, Sherylin Untalan/FRJ, GMA Integrated News
