Former President Rodrigo Duterte has formally requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) to allow him to skip the upcoming April 22 hearing, where the tribunal is set to issue its ruling on his appeal challenging the court’s jurisdiction over him.
In a filing dated April 13, Duterte informed the ICC that he would not personally attend the proceedings and would instead be represented by his lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, who signed the request on his behalf.
The Appeals Chamber I is scheduled to deliver its decision in open court at 11 a.m. in The Hague on whether to overturn a previous ruling that affirmed the ICC’s authority to try the former Philippine leader.
Duterte has consistently rejected the ICC’s legitimacy and previously skipped his confirmation of charges hearing in late February.
He faces three counts of crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s bloody war on drugs.
If the Appeals Chamber upholds the court’s jurisdiction, the case is expected to move forward to a full trial.