Sickly, White-Haired? Duterte's Next Appearance At ICC Drug War Trial Sparks Speculation

2026-02-17 02:23:05

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The public would see former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte for the first time next week during the confirmation of charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC), nearly a year since his arrest in Manila and detention in The Netherlands.

Speculation is rife that Duterte - who is charged with launching a bloody war on drugs when he was a city mayor and president - had allowed his hair and beard to grow long and that they have turned white.

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The initial appearance of Duterte at the ICC took place on March 14, 2025, when he joined via video link, sounding frail and weak.

Duterte's legal team, as well as members of his family, eventually claimed the former president is in no condition to attend trial or even stay imprisoned at the ICC detention centre in Scheveningen, The Hague. They said Duterte is sick, weak, and has become thin. Some reports even say he suffered falls inside his jail facility and that his memory has gone bad.

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Search for truth and justice

Families of victims of Duterte's so-called war on drugs, however, dismissed the claims, saying the search for truth and justice is more important than unproven claims of his frail health and advancing senility.

Atty. VJ Topacio, son of murdered activists Agaton Topacio and Eugenia Magpantay, said he does not worry about claims of Duterte's ill health.“What about us victims. Can you imagine my grief when I had to identify my parents' remains, who were murdered by the Duterte government in one night? We should focus on the charges of crimes against humanity, rather than Duterte's historic inauthentic behaviour,” Topacio said.

Former Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares pointed out that Duterte is being accused of committing inhumane acts and is not the victim.“The victims are those killed, tortured, arrested and jailed without process, courts, lawyers,” Colmenares said.

The former lawmaker added that the defence's insistence on ICC's lack of jurisdiction against Duterte and his co-perpetrators must not stop the trial.“The defence can file all the motions and appeals it can think of, but it should not stop the trial. The families of the victims have waited for years for Duterte to finally face justice,” he said.

Conducive for Duterte

Filipino human rights lawyers noted the ICC had made adjustments in the confirmation of charges hearing on former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte next week in consideration of his physical condition.

As complainants are preparing to travel to The Netherlands to attend the hearing, the lawyers in a press briefing in Manila on Tuesday explained that the sessions shall be spread over four days from February 23 to 27, with a break on the 25th.

ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti said the hearing shall be unusually lengthy as Duterte is reportedly unable to sit over a long period.

“Therefore, the sessions would be extremely short. It would just be an hour each time, followed by a break,” she said, noting:“There would only be three hours of actual sessions for an entire day, a total of 12 hours over four days.”

Conti added Duterte's defence team shall be given a longer time to present its arguments on February 26.

The ICC would be streaming the proceedings on its website on a slightly delayed basis.