THE HAGUE - The defense panel of former President Rodrigo Duterte told the International Criminal Court that prosecutors have masked the lack of evidence in their hand with “bombastic rhetoric” accusing the detained former leader of instigating violence in the Philippines.

Lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman told the The Hague court that quotes picked by the prosecution from Duterte’s media interviews and speeches were not intended to sow violence.

In his opening statement, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang declared that the accused, now 80, “must be held to account.” for the deaths of thousands of Filipino civilians who were killed during the state-backed war on drugs.

“While this court cannot reunite victims with their loved ones, it can help rebuild the truth about what happened to them and bring a sense of justice to the victims,” said Niang.

Duterte was granted by the three-man judge his request not to be personally present in both in person and on line during the hearing.

Aside from Kaufman, he was represented by former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, former spokesman and legal adviser Salvador Panelo and former labor secretary Silvestre Bello III.

Presiding Judge Iulia Antonella Motoc said the four-day proceedings will not determine the guilt or innocence of Duterte to the charges, but will only “determine whether there is sufficient evidence” to the accusations.

In his opening statement, Kaufman said Duterte was “unconstitutionally hijacked and unceremoniously hauled off to The Hague” , adding that it was part of the Marcos government’s to politically neutralize his client.

The charges cited 49 incidents that led to the deaths of 76 individuals and the attempted murder of two others. It covered the murders allegedly committed by the Duterte Death Squad (DDS).