The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I has granted the request of former President Rodrigo Duterte to refrain from attending his confirmation of charges hearing next week in connection with his war on drugs.

"The Chamber hereby grants the request; decides that the hearing on the confirmation of charges will be held in the absence of Mr. Duterte," the Chamber said in a document dated February 20.

Meanwhile, the chamber directed Duterte’s camp, the ICC Prosecutors, and the common legal representatives of the victims to indicate whether certain filings may be public or must be redacted.

The confirmation of charges hearing will be held on February 23, February 24, February 26, and February 27.

DAY IN COURT: ICC Hearings on the Charges vs. Duterte

Earlier this week, Duterte waived his right to attend the hearings for for several reasons, but mainly because he does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction over him.

Over the weekend, the ICC released the Document Containing the Charges (DCC) submitted by the prosecution that named the former president's alleged co-perpetrators in the war against drugs, as well as the charges against him to be read in next week’s hearing.

They are are Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Senator Bong Go, lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre II, and former officials Vicente Danao, Camilo Cascolan, Oscar Albayalde, and other officials.  

Based on government records, around 6,200 drug suspects were killed during the Duterte administration's anti-drug operations. Human rights organizations, however, say that the number may reach 30,000 due to the unreported related killings.

(With reports from Joahna Lei Casilao, GMA Integrated News)