Naghain ng kahilingan si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte na i-waive ang kaniyang karapatang dumalo sa pagdinig ng International Criminal Court (ICC) kaugnay sa confirmation of charges laban sa kaniya na nakatakdang magsimula sa Lunes, Pebrero 23.
Batay sa dokumentong may petsang Pebrero 17, 2026, sinabi ni Duterte na nauunawaan niya ang magiging epekto ng hindi pagdalo at ipinauubaya niya sa kaniyang mga abogado ang pagharap sa mga ebidensiya ng prosecution.
“I, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, wish to waive my right to attend the hearing on the confirmation of charges currently fixed for 23-27 February 2026. I understand the consequences of my waiving this right which has been thoroughly explained to me by my Counsel and I trust him and his team to challenge the sufficiency of the Prosecution’s evidence on my behalf,” ani Duterte.
Dagdag pa niya, “I do not wish to follow these proceedings from outside the courtroom through the use of communications technology. An original copy of this waiver and my signature is in the hands of my lawyers.”
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Nasa kustodiya si Duterte ng ICC Detention Centre sa The Hague, Netherlands kung saan isinasagawa ang proseso sa kaniya.
Sa nasabing liham, iginiit din ng dating pangulo na hindi niya kinikilala ang hurisdiksiyon ng ICC at inilarawang labag umano sa soberanya ng bansa ang pagkakadala sa kaniya sa Netherlands.
“I do not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over my person. I am a Filipino citizen forcibly pushed into a jet and renditioned to The Hague in the Netherlands in flagrant contravention of my country’s Constitution and of national sovereignty. My kidnapping was facilitated by the office of the incumbent President of the Philippines with a plane specially chartered for this purpose,” aniya.
Itinanggi rin ni Duterte ang alegasyon na may kinalaman siya sa umano’y extrajudicial killings sa kampanya kontra ilegal na droga.
“The claim that I oversaw a policy of extra-judicial killings is an outrageous lie. These claims have been peddled by my political opponents for many years and, as my nation knows, they are based on the word of individuals whose credibility has been thoroughly discredited,” saad niya.
Ayon pa sa dating pangulo, hindi na niya nais pang personal na dumalo sa mga legal na proseso dahil sa kaniyang kalagayan.
“I do not wish to attend legal proceedings that I will forget within minutes. I am old, tired, and frail. I wish for this Court to respect my peace inside the cell it has placed me. I have accepted the fact that I could die in prison. But those that desire this fate for me should know that my heart and soul will always remain in the Philippines.”
Ipinahayag din niya ang pagmamalaki sa kaniyang naging paglilingkod sa bansa.
“I am proud of my legacy and of my service to my countrymen around the world. Let no one doubt my love for and loyalty to the Filipino nation.”
Sa Pebrero 23 hanggang Pebrero 27 isasagawa ang nasabing pagdinig na nauna nang nakansela noong Setyembre dahil umano sa paglala ng kalusugan ng dating pangulo.
