Duterte Tells His Lawyer He's 'Accepted His Fate' and Could Die in Prison — But the ICC Prosecutor Wasn't Having the Drama

On the final day of the ICC confirmation of charges hearing, defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman dropped a bombshell: former President Rodrigo Duterte has told him he's "accepted his fate" and realizes he could die in prison. "I was a faithful servant of the people, and that is how I wish to be remembered," Kaufman quoted the 80-year-old former leader as saying.

But ICC Senior Trial Lawyer Julian Nicholls was quick to object. He asked the Pre-Trial Chamber to strike every word of Kaufman's statement about Duterte, arguing that the defense lawyer was essentially testifying for his own client. "If he wanted to come here, he didn't want to come here. He could have come and talked about what he wanted to," Nicholls fired back.

Duterte, who waived his right to attend the proceedings because he doesn't recognize the ICC's jurisdiction, reportedly told Kaufman: "Go to court and do your job, but I can never help you. I no longer remember much at all." He also said the prosecution's witnesses were strangers to him — except for two he "vaguely recalls" from his days as Davao mayor. His verdict on one? "Liar." The other? "Scallywag."

According to Kaufman, when he told Duterte that the prosecution claimed it had enough evidence to convict him even without his speeches, the former president repeated: "But how? I've never murdered anyone. But they talk about thousands?" Whether genuine confusion or calculated messaging, the words landed heavily in the courtroom.

The ICC Office of the Prosecutor has charged Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity for alleged murder and attempted murder during his time as both mayor and president. The Pre-Trial Chamber will now decide whether to confirm the charges and send the case to full trial. Kung matuloy, this could be the biggest trial involving a Filipino leader in history.

Source: GMA News