Rody Duterte’s ICC trial will have its own share of theatrics, says ex-judge Pangalangan

August 24, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Former International Criminal Court Judge Raul Pangalangan said that former President Rodrigo Duterte’s trial for the crimes against humanity case against him can be expected to have its own share of theatrics.

The former President’s trial is scheduled to begin on November 30 with a new set of judges who did not handle the pre-trial stage.

Pangalangan said it would be good for the Philippines to see how the ICC trial will go.

“For me, it is good for the Philippine judicial system… to see how a court proceeding goes in the ICC. There will be all the usual guarantees that we’re familiar with and there will be the occasional dramatics and theatrics by counsel. You know, that is part of the game,” Pangalangan said on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s “The Spokes.”

He noted that during the pre-trial stage, the judges deliberately said that the proceedings were not a mini-trial and were just preliminary.

“In so many words, ‘reserve your theatrics for the next stage.’ So all the technicalities and the objections you will encounter in the trial stage,” he added.

“The Spokes” host Mike Toledo quipped that lawyers are also paid for those theatrics.

Duterte’s crimes against humanity case stemmed from killings that took place in his drug war when he was president and when he was Davao City mayor.

He has been detained since March 2025 pursuant to a warrant from the ICC.

Rody Duterte’s ICC trial will have its own share of theatrics, says ex-judge Pangalangan

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