Harry Roque, also a lawyer seeking to represent him in the ICC case, said the question of jurisdiction over the Philippines, which withdrew from the global court when Duterte was president, should be addressed before any further proceedings.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte did not appear in the courtroom for his initial hearing at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Friday. Duterte would follow the proceedings through a video link,

Amid former president Rodrigo Duterte's legal battle with the International Criminal Court, there are questions on who will represent him during the trial for his alleged crimes against humanity. According to Kristina Conti,

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte appears via video link at a hearing at the Hague, where he faces murder charges related to his “war on drugs.” Former ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo outlines the charges against Duterte,

By Stephanie van den Berg and Anthony Deutsch THE HAGUE -Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was "abducted" before being taken to The Hague to face murder allegations and is too ill to give evidence,

Duterte, 79, appeared at the hearing via videolink, with Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc citing his prior “long journey."