Following the Confirmation of Charges Hearing, Kitty Duterte Speaks on Legal Proceedings
KITTY DUTERTE – The youngest daughter of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte admitted that she did not watch the confirmation of charges hearing held by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was allowed by the ICC to skip the confirmation of charges hearing that ran from February 23 to February 27. The former Chief Executive signed a waiver and submitted a letter to the foreign court.
In a letter to the foreign court, he reaffirmed his refusal to acknowledge its jurisdiction over him. He described himself as old and frail, and appealed for the court to respect his peace while confined in the cell where he has been placed.
At the hearing to confirm the charges, former President Rodrigo Duterte was represented by his counsel, Nicholas Kaufman. Kaufman argued that Duterte was innocent of the accusations, underscoring that the former president never issued any explicit directive to kill drug suspects.
The Duterte siblings were taking turns in visiting former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte inside the the ICC detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands. Last March 11, 2025, when Duterte was arrested, only his youngest daughter, Kitty Duterte, was able to be with him before he was flown out of the country for the transfer of his custody.
Recently, outside the ICC detention facility, Kitty Duterte was asked about the confirmation of charges hearing of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Based on a post, the youngest daughter of the former President admitted that she did not watch the hearing.
“Actually noh, I’ll be honest hindi namin kayang panoorin. I think it’s the same for the four of us and for my mother, we don’t really watch… hindi namin kaya. It’s hard for us,” Kitty said.
Meanwhile, Kitty Duterte assured that she’s in touch with the legal team of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to track progress. Based on the post, the youngest daughter of the former President was also asked about her father’s statement that he will remain a faithful servant of the people.
“Always the same. He rarely calls himself politician. ‘Di man gani na magpatawag presidente sa una during his time. Ang favorite niya na tinatawag sa kanya is mayor gyud. So he’s the same, always the same,” the younger Duterte said.
Ahead of the Defense team’s final submissions to the International Criminal Court, Nicholas Kaufman said that former President Rodrigo Duterte was “in good spirits.” The British-Israeli lawyer met with Duterte a day before the third confirmation of charges hearing.
“I went up to the prison and I told him everything that was going on,” Duterte’s lawyer said.
Kaufman noted that Duterte has not been following the ICC’s confirmation of charges hearings, having signed a waiver to forgo appearing before the foreign court. Nonetheless, he underscored that, as Duterte’s legal counsel, it is his duty to keep the former president fully informed.
Previously, lawyer Nicholas Kaufman expressed his hope that the ICC will drop the charges against former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. The former President is faced with three (3) counts of murder filed by the ICC prosecutor.