Padilla sheds tears upon seeing ‘Father Digong’ appear at ICC chamber

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robin Padilla shed tears of joy after former President Rodrigo Duterte made his first in-person appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber III on Wednesday.

It has been a year and a half since Duterte attended his proceedings in the Hague, which he previously only attended through online video conferencing.

“I was shocked and unexpectedly shed tears of joy when I saw him. But I was also filled with sadness because I knew that Father Digong is a strong man,” Padilla said in a text message to the media.

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“He was capable of courage and compassion, but his 81-year-old body could no longer handle the prison,” he added.

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READ: Duterte finally appears in person before ICC

Padilla is among the lawmakers who opposed Duterte’s arrest. He has repeatedly asserted that a local court should have tried the former president, instead of a foreign tribunal.

Duterte appeared in person before Trial Chamber III for the third status conference of his case, ahead of his trial on November 30.

The former president faces two counts of murder as crimes against humanity, and one count of murder and attempted murder as a crime against humanity, in relation to his administration’s war on illegal drugs. /apl