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MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte has tapped his former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as one of his legal counsels at the International Criminal Court, where he was set to make his first appearance on Friday to face crimes against humanity charges over his war on drugs.

Duterte wrote the court to request Medialdea’s appointment as his counsel “to assist me during the initial appearance before the Pre-Trial Chamber.”

Courtesy: ICC-CPI

The 79-year-old will appear before judges for a hearing where he will be informed of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, as well as his rights as a defendant.

Duterte stands accused of the crime against humanity of murder over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups said killed tens of thousands of people.

Courtesy: ICC-CPI

Before he landed in The Hague on Wednesday, the former leader said in a Facebook video: “For all of the whatever happened in the past, ako na ‘yung nag-front sa ating law enforcement pati military. Sinabi ko na, I will protect you and I will… ako ang managot sa lahat.”

“This will be a long, legal proceeding but I say to you, I will continue to serve my country and so be it kung ganun ang destiny ko,” he said.

At the initial hearing, a suspect can request interim release pending a trial, according to ICC rules.

Following that first hearing, the next phase is a session to confirm the charges, at which point a suspect can challenge the prosecutor's evidence.

Only after that hearing will the court decide whether to press ahead with a trial, a process that could take several months or even years.

"It's important to underline, as we now start a new stage of proceedings, that Mr. Duterte is presumed innocent," said ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan.

— With reports from Agence France-Presse; Zen Hernandez and Jofelle Tesorio, ABS-CBN News