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

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was "abducted" before being taken to The Hague to face murder allegations and is too ill to give evidence, his lawyer told International Criminal Court judges at his initial appearance on Friday.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has junked former President Rodrigo Duterte’s plea to reschedule his first court appearance. Duterte’s legal counsel and former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea made this known in his manifestation during the pretrial on Friday night (Philippine time).