Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he has accepted the possibility that he may die inside the detention facility of the International Criminal Court and will no longer attend his upcoming hearing in The Hague.
In a letter addressed to the court, Duterte said he is already exhausted and cited his age as a factor in his decision. He asked the ICC to respect his wish to remain in detention rather than attend the scheduled confirmation of charges hearing set from Feb. 23 to 27, 2026, in the Netherlands.
Duterte wrote that he has come to terms with the possibility that his life could end while under ICC custody. He said his only request is for the court to allow him to rest inside the facility.
The former president stated that he no longer intends to participate in the proceedings and wants his decision respected. He said he is prepared for whatever may happen while he remains detained.
Despite his situation, Duterte said he continues to keep the Philippines in his thoughts. He wrote that his “heart and soul” remain with the country even while he is in custody abroad.
He also said he stands by his record as president despite the accusations against him. Duterte said he remains proud of what he accomplished during his time in office and believes his actions showed his love for the Philippines.
The International Criminal Court has scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing as part of its legal process. Duterte’s letter indicates he will not attend and instead will remain inside the detention facility.
