Rodrigo Duterte, former president of the Philippines, appeared in person for the first time before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, facing charges of crimes against humanity related to his anti-drug campaign. Prosecutors allege he was involved in the killing of at least 76 suspects between 2013 and 2018 during his tenure as both national leader and mayor of Davao City.
Rodrigo Duterte, the 81-year-old former president of the Philippines, appeared in person at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, today (16 Sep), as he faces charges of crimes against humanity for his crackdown on drug users and dealers while serving as mayor of Davao City and later as president of the Philippines.
Duterte, dressed in a dark suit and white shirt without a tie, sat in the courtroom resting his chin on his hand as the proceedings began.
Previously, Duterte appeared before the court via video link during his initial appearance after his arrest in March 2025 but did not attend subsequent hearings. His defense team cited illness as the reason for his absence.
Judge Joanna Korner stated this is Duterte's first in-person court appearance and noted he may leave the courtroom at any time without seeking permission from the judges.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity, with prosecutors alleging his involvement in at least 76 killings from 2013 to 2018, coinciding with his strict anti-drug policies.
He is the first former Asian head of state to be brought before the ICC, which prosecutes individuals for the gravest crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Judge Korner scheduled the trial to begin on 30 November, noting the case may take several months or years. Wednesday’s hearing was a status conference to discuss procedural and management issues.
Relatives of victims of the anti-drug campaign expressed relief at seeing Duterte appear in court in person. Randy Delos Santos, 48, uncle of Kian Delos Santos—a teenager shot dead by police in August 2017 during Duterte’s presidency—said the family was glad to see the former leader participate personally and hoped the process would bring justice to victims’ families.
Meanwhile, Duterte's lawyers submitted documents to the court on Tuesday stating he suffers from "significant memory impairment" that prevents him from reliably recalling new information. The judges are considering whether he is mentally fit for trial and have ordered three medical experts to assess his condition.
Although the medical evaluation results have not been publicly disclosed, Duterte’s defense team cited the report stating he believes it is the year 2007 or 2008 and that he is 84 or 85 years old, and is unable to recall the name of the current U.S. president.
In a February hearing, prosecutors alleged Duterte was involved in the killing of "thousands" of drug suspects during his time as mayor of Davao City and later as president of the Philippines.
Prosecutor Julian Nichols told the court that Duterte established and controlled a "death squad" in Davao City, asserting his policy was to kill many individuals linked to drugs.
The actual death toll from the Philippine anti-drug operations is believed to be in the thousands. Lawyers representing victims’ families said a full trial could encourage other affected families to come forward with more information.
However, Duterte’s lawyer in February, Nicholas Coferman, asserted the former leader’s innocence and argued that the prosecution’s evidence is insufficient and politically motivated. The defense acknowledged Duterte’s use of harsh rhetoric but maintained he instructed officials to use lethal force only in self-defense.
Despite facing ICC charges, Duterte retains support from some Filipinos who approve of his tough crime-fighting approach during his tenure.
. . .AFP