LIVE UPDATES: Duterte ICC Hearing – Confirmation of Charges (Feb 27)

'NOR SHOULD THE BURDEN SHIFT TO THE DEFENSE'Lead defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman argued that the prosecution should bear the responsibility of proving the authenticity of the police records it claims are fabricated, adding that if the prosecution intends to undermine official… pic.twitter.com/nGOxE24ZXJ

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

'FAKE NEWS FROM MR. DUTERTE'S SUPPORTERS'In his closing statement, Atty. Gilbert Andres said the victims of the “war on drugs” campaign want former president Rodrigo Duterte to be committed to trial and that the prosecution's evidence is suffice, adding that they fear being… pic.twitter.com/HV3fnu4yho

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

'THE WORDS OF THE PRESIDENT IS TO BE OBEYED'Atty. Gilbert Andres, common legal representative of the victims, said that Rodrigo Duterte's word as head of state becomes policy, with whatever the former president says in his speeches is taken literally due to strong loyalty… pic.twitter.com/8ja9lEgDC3

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

'HIS CLIENT PREVENTED ALL THAT BY WITHDRAWING THE PHILIPPINES'Senior trial lawyer Julian Nicholls responded to Nicholas Kaufman questioning why the International Criminal Court doesn't investigate drug-related killings under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration,… pic.twitter.com/6PFeLoA3Gf

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

Rodrigo Duterte killed thousands during his anti-drug campaign, an International Criminal Court prosecutor alleged Friday.

Nicholas Kaufman, the lead defense counsel, continues his submissions on the merits at former President Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC hearing.

WATCH: Relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) hold a candle lighting vigil for their loved ones on the fourth and final day of the confirmation of charges hearing against former President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court on Friday, February 27. |… pic.twitter.com/QrZogMbfP0

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

'MARKED NEUTRALIZED ON THE DAY THEY'RE KILLED'Senior trial lawyer Julian Nicholls refuted Duterte's lead defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman's claim that to "neutralize" meant to arrest and not to kill, noting that Ronaldo Espinosa and Raul Yap who were on the "PRRD List" were… pic.twitter.com/bSOsIFfQL9

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team on Friday maintained that the prosecution has no evidence he had a hand in three murders.

NICHOLLS CHALLENGES KAUFMAN’S ‘NEUTRALIZED’ DEFENSESenior trial lawyer Julian Nicholls challenged the defense of Nicholas Kaufman, arguing that the term “neutralized” in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” campaign meant to arrest and not to kill.Nicholls cited… pic.twitter.com/XyzBt2L0M4

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, lead counsel for former President Rodrigo Duterte, argues that with the exception of Kian Delos Santos, the prosecution has not presented evidence before the chamber establishing that any of the other victims identified in the 49 incidents were minors.… pic.twitter.com/bf0EnxOj03

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

PROSECUTION AND VICTIMS’ COUNSEL’S CLOSING STATEMENTS The International Criminal Court resumes former president Rodrigo Duterte’s confirmation on charges after a 30-minute break. The court will now hear the closing statements of the common legal representatives of the victims… pic.twitter.com/KREhxprMih

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

‘HVT IS NOT A CODE FOR AN INSTRUCTION TO KILL’Nicholas Kaufman, lead defense counsel for former President Rodrigo Duterte, clarifies that HVT was an operational classification used by law enforcement and is not a code for an instruction to kill.•⁠ ⁠Follow live updates here… pic.twitter.com/aF0T8AsbbH

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

'RESPECT THE CHAMBER'S DECISION' Pre-Trial Chamber I Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc cautioned Duterte’s lead defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman against revealing identifiable information of victims and witnesses during the proceedings.It can be recalled that the livestream of the… pic.twitter.com/xNCFCD1r5Y

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

‘SHAPED INTO CLONES OF THEIR IDOL’

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David said that something changed in Filipinos during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, as violence and threats were normalized and even treated as entertainment during his “war on drugs” campaign.… pic.twitter.com/x14V4TRQlS

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

KAUFMAN REFUTES DUTERTE LINK IN ESPINOSA KILLING

The case of the late Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa was cited by lead defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, who argued that the prosecution’s case linking former president Rodrigo Duterte to the killing was based on a witness… pic.twitter.com/fiww82M3IV

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

‘RESPECT THE CHAMBER’S DECISION REGARDING REDACTIONS’

ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc reminds Duterte’s lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman to refrain from exposing the identities of victims and witnesses during the session.

The broadcast of the third day of the… pic.twitter.com/dF1rpRA3ks

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

‘RESPECT THE CHAMBER’S DECISION REGARDING REDACTIONS’

ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc reminds Duterte’s lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman to refrain from exposing the identities of victims and witnesses during the session.

The broadcast of the third day of the… pic.twitter.com/dF1rpRA3ks

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

FINAL DAY OF DUTERTE ICC HEARING

The International Criminal Court begins the final day of its confirmation of charges hearing against former president Rodrigo Duterte over allegations of crimes against humanity in connection with his “war on drugs” campaign.

Duterte’s defense… pic.twitter.com/mMEO8qQi0g

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

The fourth and final day of the confirmation of charges hearing against former President Rodrigo Duterte before the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I began on Friday.

LOOK: Human rights advocates and relatives of EJK victims stage a protest in UP Diliman on the last day of the confirmation of charges hearing against former president Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court on Friday, Feb. 27. | @dMorcosoINQ

•⁠ ⁠Follow live… pic.twitter.com/kbtRvqts8W

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 27, 2026

Nicholas Kaufman, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer, said he felt sorry for a victim he saw weeping at the confirmation of charges hearing at the ICC.

Palace press officer Claire Castro urged Nicholas Kaufman to file cases if he saw abuses in the current administration’s anti-drug operations.

The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday rejected claims made by alleged ex-Marines

The defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday told the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

More family members of those killed in the Philippines’ war on drugs are expected to seek recognition in the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC), as their lawyers expressed confidence that the charges would proceed to trial.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team on Thursday maintained that the prosecution does not have substantial evidence