On Friday afternoon, Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared for the first time before judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC), after his sensational extradition to The Hague earlier in the week.

The denial by the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) of the motion made by Salvador Medialdea to defer Friday’s hearing and the passive reaction of the judges to his claims that former President Rodrigo Duterte was renditioned to The Hague indicated that the tribunal avoids politicizing the case.