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.

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.