July 10, 2022
MANILA, Philippines — Today marks the third day of the confirmation of charges hearing in the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court.
For background information on the hearing, you may check out this story:
Duterte at the ICC: Confirmation of charges hearing
To check out stories on Day 1 and Day 2 of the hearing, you may check out these pages:
HIGHLIGHTS: Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing at ICC – Day 1
LIVE: Duterte ICC Hearing – Confirmation of Charges (Feb 24)
To review Day 1 and Day 2 of the hearing, here are the livestreams of the proceedings:
Bookmark this page to stay updated with the latest news and features related to the ICC confirmation of charges hearing.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team on Thursday maintained that the prosecution does not have substantial evidence that the former chief executive provided practical assistance, encouragement, or moral support for the crimes committed during his administration’s… pic.twitter.com/loRCGNDbqS
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
NO INDIVIDUAL PROOF, NO TRIALLead counsel Nicholas Kaufman is calling on the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I not to commit any of the 49 charged incidents to trial, saying the prosecution has not established a direct criminal link for each specific case. | 🎥: ICC• Follow live… pic.twitter.com/HnQepd5OMa
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
SHIELDING KILLERS TO NAIL DUTERTE? Lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman slams the ICC prosecution for building their case on the testimony of “self-confessed murderers.” | 🎥: ICC• Follow live updates here: https://t.co/ZsS2cLwspL• Watch our livestream here:… pic.twitter.com/SUs9fSjoNC
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
KAUFMAN: KILLINGS CONTINUED UNDER MARCOSLead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman cites reports showing that deaths continued after Rodrigo Duterte’s term and asks whether the ICC prosecution also intends to investigate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration. | 🎥: ICC… pic.twitter.com/ERDRxXuyiX
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
“NEUTRALIZE ≠ KILL”Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s defense counsel says the prosecution "failed to appreciate" that the term "neutralization" is anchored in the PNP Operational Procedures Manual. Nicholas Kaufman maintains that Duterte’s instructions to "neutralize"… pic.twitter.com/kWUwwcHeSl
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
“A preposterous scheme”Defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman takes aim at the Prosecution’s "Common Plan" theory. He argues that the ICC’s case lacks a "smoking gun" and relies on Rodrigo Duterte’s public speeches rather than direct evidence of criminal orders. | 🎥: ICC•… pic.twitter.com/K4udd75SQS
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
WATCH: Relatives of alleged extrajudicial killing victims under Duterte's term called for the arrest of those tagged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the former president's co-perpetrators, including senators Ronaldo "Bato" Dela Rosa and Bong Go, in alleged crimes… pic.twitter.com/KnJKt9b5Q4
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
"Duterte should not remain in detention"On Day 3 of the ICC confirmation of charges hearing, former president Rodrigo Duterte's lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman challenged the legal foundations of the prosecution's case. The defense argued that the prosecution has failed to meet… pic.twitter.com/ZRYaQ1oUHD
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
DAY 3 ENDSThe International Criminal Court (ICC) adjourns the third day of the confirmation of charges hearing of former President Rodrigo Duterte after conducting a closed session on Thursday, Feb. 26. | 📷: ICC• Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/ZsS2cLvUAd… pic.twitter.com/gatFj8yKSc
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team on Thursday maintained that the number of individuals killed during his administration’s bloody war on drugs was “minimal” compared with the number of arrests made.READ MORE: https://t.co/8f2FYkuDuQ pic.twitter.com/0vNOfAaZVB
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
WATCH: Relatives of alleged extrajudicial killing victims under Duterte's term called for the arrest of what the International Criminal Court (ICC) tagged as the former president's co-perpetrators, including senators Ronaldo "Bato" Dela Rosa and Bong Go, on the third day of the… pic.twitter.com/japtTuOb3G
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
Atty. Nicholas Kaufman asserts that what the International Criminal Court labels as former president Rodrigo Duterte’s use of “dehumanizing language” does not indicate criminal intent and is insufficient to prove the existence of a “common plan.”• Follow our live updates… pic.twitter.com/BimxM8cqNg
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
Atty. Nicholas Kaufman cites that the number of drug-related killings continues to rise even after the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte.“There is no reason to believe that Rodrigo Duterte’s disappearance from the political scene would have frustrated the ongoing… pic.twitter.com/LlGE7yDYbs
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
‘NEUTRALIZATION CAN ONLY MEAN THE USE OF SELF-DEFENSE’Atty. Nicholas Kaufman maintains that former president Rodrigo Duterte directed law enforcers to use force only when a suspect’s resistance put an officer’s life at risk.• Follow our live updates here:… pic.twitter.com/4i6ewUN1hB
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
‘NEUTRALIZATION MEANS ARREST’Atty. Nicholas Kaufman shares a copy of the PNP operational procedure manual, which shows the term “neutralization” is defined as “a police intervention in strict accord with the use of force continuum and/or principle of proportionality on the use… pic.twitter.com/3Rjt0YhfHd
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, lead counsel of Rodrigo Duterte, states that the former president should not be held responsible for how the term “neutralize” was interpreted during drug war operations.• Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/ZsS2cLvUAd• Watch our… pic.twitter.com/d2wr1WwQIe
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
‘RODRIGO DUTERTE IS INNOCENT’Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, lead counsel of Rodrigo Duterte, asserts that no witness in the 49 killing incidents cited by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecution testifies to receiving a direct order to kill from the former president.•… pic.twitter.com/B7ZoE0VH2v
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
‘WHY DID IT TAKE THE ICC PROSECUTION ALMOST FOUR YEARS TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION?’Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s lead counsel Atty. Nicholas Kaufman challenges the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) belated action to initiate an investigation during the third day of the… pic.twitter.com/MXSaEhzcCR
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
LOOK: Relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) gather in Quezon City on Thursday, Feb. 26, for the third day of a watch party as the International Criminal Court holds a confirmation of charges hearing against former President Rodrigo Duterte in The Hague. |… pic.twitter.com/K4ivyYHYz8
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
“There is no smoking gun in this case.”Lead defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman asserts former president Rodrigo Duterte’s innocence, noting that although he made threats in speeches, no witness can testify that he ever gave a direct order to commit murder.“All those speeches… pic.twitter.com/utMfguk926
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
‘MR. RODRIGO DUTERTE SHOULD NOT REMAIN IN DETENTION’Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s lead counsel Atty. Nicholas Kaufman begins the defense team’s submission on the merits on the third day of the confirmation of charges hearing.• Follow our live updates here:… pic.twitter.com/CKjyRzxd28
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
ICC DAY 3: DEFENSE’S SUBMISSION ON THE MERITSThe ICC confirmation of charges hearing for Rodrigo Duterte resumed Thursday, with his defense team presenting their submission on the merits in response to the prosecution.Lead defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman opened by addressing… pic.twitter.com/sDVKNA3xwI
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
DAY 3 OF ICCThe International Criminal Court resumes its hearing on the confirmation of charges of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Today’s sessions will focus on Duterte’s defense team’s submission on the merits. | 📷: ICC⁰• Follow our live updates here:… pic.twitter.com/PWJSVFNPt0
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
PCP AFFIRMS AUTHENTICITY OF DRUG WAR PHOTOSREAD: The Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines (PCP) “categorically rejects and condemns” allegations that the documentation of photographers related to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs is fabricated.“Such allegations… pic.twitter.com/3QJaDyATw7
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
As the ICC confirmation of charges hearing enters Day 3 today, former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte remains the first and only Asian former head of state to be arrested and held in ICC custody.Following a scheduled midweek break yesterday, the court reconvenes this… pic.twitter.com/2hic185GjK
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 26, 2026
