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,

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

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.