Rody Duterte in good shape at ICC hearing, Palace says

September 17, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Former President Rodrigo Duterte appears to be in good shape, based on his first personal appearance before the International Criminal Court in over a year, Malacañang said on Thursday.

“Unang-una sa mga kababayan natin, nakita naman po natin na maganda naman po ang kalagayan ng ating dating Pangulo na si dating Pangulong Duterte. At nakita naman namin na mukhang accepted naman niya po na magtuloy-tuloy ang hearing sa ICC. So, iyon lamang po,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

On Wednesday, Duterte appeared for the first time for the third status conference of his case, with his hair a bit longer.

The former President was arrested in March 2025 on orders of the ICC and was flown to The Hague on the same day.

The Palace has repeatedly maintained that there is nothing illegal about turning over Duterte to the ICC, as the Philippines was fulfilling its obligations to the Interpol that implemented the arrest warrant.

Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity in relation to the killings of his bloody war on illegal drugs.