- Duterte asks supporters to avoid influencing ICC in ongoing trial: Sara
FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte has pleaded with his supporters to refrain from public commentary regarding his ongoing case at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The request was relayed by Vice President Sara Duterte during a gathering in The Hague, Netherlands, held to commemorate the former president’s 80th birthday on March 28, 2025.
According to the vice president, her father emphasized the importance of allowing the legal process to proceed without external interference.
“He said that if you want to express your support, if you want to express your anger, or if you want to express your satisfaction, he asked that you not discuss his case or its developments, particularly regarding the complainants or complaints filed with the ICC,” the vice president stated.
In addition to this request, former President Duterte also urged his supporters to cast their votes for PDP-Laban’s Senate candidates in the upcoming elections.
This dual message was delivered against the backdrop of his ongoing legal proceedings at the ICC, where he faces accusations of crimes against humanity.
Duterte remains under the custody of the ICC as he faces trial for crimes against humanity. On March 31, the prosecutors of the tribunal handed over 181 items to the former president’s legal team so they could review the evidence.
The former president was arrested on the morning of March 11, 2025, after arriving from a sortie in Hong Kong. He was later whisked off a private plane to Dubai en route to the Netherlands, thereby robbing the Supreme Court of a chance to act on the temporary restraining order filed by Duterte’s lawyers.
Meanwhile, a crowd of Filipinos, mostly OFWs, continue to mill outside the Scheveningen Prison to show their support for Duterte.
