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

By Stephanie van den Berg and Anthony Deutsch THE HAGUE - Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was "abducted" before being taken to The Hague to face murder allegations and is too ill to give evidence,

It was mainly intended to confirm his identity and set some matters of procedure. It was over in under 30 minutes. But none of it was merely procedural—for every minute was historic—as Filipinos watched their former leader reduced to saying his name,