Pinoy Pie

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 26 February) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, will proceed with the hearing on detention for former President Rodrigo R. Duterte even without his presence after Pre-Trial Chamber I granted his request to skip the proceeding scheduled on February 27. In a four-page decision dated February 25, the chamber noted that Duterte, in his request, acknowledged his right to be present at the hearing to review his detention but chose to waive it. It also said that Duterte is aware of the legal consequences of his waiver, as explained by his legal counsel. “Considering that nothing in the Court’s legal framework requires the presence of the suspect at the hearing mandated by rule 118(3) of the Rules, the Chamber finds that, in the present circumstances, it is appropriate to grant Mr. Duterte’s Request,” the chamber added. In his waiver, Duterte said that he trusts his lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, and other members of his legal team to re...