Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte Speaks on ICC Charges vs. Dad Rodrigo
PAOLO DUTERTE – The Davao Congressman slammed the International Criminal Court (ICC) anew over the case of his father, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The confirmation of charges hearing of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte before the ICC has officially started. It is set to run until February 27 and the former President is represented by his lead counsel, British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte skipped the confirmation of charges hearing which was allowed by the ICC. According to the former President, he does not recognize the jurisdiction of the foreign court over him. He also stressed that he is old and frail and he wants the court to respect his peace in the cell they put him in.
Duterte also claimed in his letter to the ICC that he has accepted that he might die in prison. Aside from Kaufman, the former President was represented by six (6) Filipino lawyers who were recently added to the his legal team.
Here are the lawyers who were recently added to the ICC legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte:
- Salvador Medialdea
- Martin Delgra III
- Silvestre Bello III
- Alfredo Lim Jr.
- Caesar Dulay
- Salvador Panelo
Since March 2025, the Duterte siblings are taking turns in visiting former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte inside the ICC detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands. Davao Congressman Paolo Duterte, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Davao Mayor Baste Duterte, and Kitty Duterte were only able to visit their father altogether once.
Recently, Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte slammed the ICC anew over the charges against his father, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. His remarks came amid the ongoing confirmation of charges hearing. The former President is facing three (3) counts of murder as alleged crimes against humanity.
Based on News5, Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte questioned the ICC jurisdiction and claimed that the foreign court is allegedly pretending to be delivering justice through the confirmation of charges hearing. He stressed that it is allegedly “not justice, but selective prosecution dressed up as moral superiority”.
Based on the post, Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte hit the independence of the ICC and being allegedly the representative of the victims which supposedly takes for granted the security felt by millions of Filipinos when the government was allegedly fighting against crimes, drugs, and the lawlessness.
“Kung may hurisdiksyon man kayo, crimes against humanity na pala ang pagsugpo ng kriminalidad sa sariling bayan?” the younger Duterte said.