The hague: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has approved former president Rodrigo Duterte's request to be absent from his confirmation hearing scheduled from February 23 to 27. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I confirmed that the hearing would proceed in Duterte's absence, as outlined in a court document released on Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Rome Statute, which established the ICC in 1998, permits the confirmation hearing to continue even if the suspect forgoes the right to attend. ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet stated that Duterte's request was sufficient to meet the requirements under the relevant provisions. Maillet emphasized that Duterte acknowledged his right to be present and was aware of the implications of waiving that right, as explained by his counsel.

Despite granting the waiver for the confirmation hearing, the chamber stipulated that Duterte must be present during the trial if charges are confirmed, as the Rome Statute does not allow trials without the accused. Maillet clarified that Duterte's absence was based on his waiver, not due to health reasons.

Duterte has been held at the ICC Detention Centre in Scheveningen, The Hague, since March of the previous year. Maillet assured that the facility adheres to the highest international human rights standards, emphasizing that detainees are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Filipino lawyer and former Ateneo School of Government dean Tony La Vi±a explained that the confirmation hearing involves the presentation of preliminary evidence. He noted that this stage is not about proving guilt but about determining if the charges are valid and if a trial should proceed. La Vi±a likened the confirmation hearing to pre-trial proceedings in the Philippine justice system, focusing on the validity and sufficiency of the evidence rather than determining guilt.