Presiding Judge Joanna Korner stressed that while Duterte’s waiver of appearance was approved for the status conference, his attendance would be expected once the trial proper begins.

The transition to the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament on Oct. 30 marks the culmination of the political track's transition phase, but it does not complete the broader peace agreement.

The challenge for lawmakers is to build protections that work in practice, not merely impose restrictions that are difficult to enforce or easy to evade.