Former Philippine President Duterte appears before ICC in The Hague
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared in a courtroom at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, on September 16. Judges heard arguments regarding his health and ability to participate in the trial, which is scheduled to begin in November, the Jerusalem Post reports.
The 81-year-old Duterte did not speak in court. He was dressed in a black suit and a white shirt. This was his first public appearance since being transferred to the ICC 18 months ago in connection with a case over killings linked to his anti-drug campaign.
Duterte's health condition
The former president's lawyers said that he has cognitive impairments affecting his memory and daily functioning. In their view, Duterte's health condition does not allow him to participate in the proceedings.
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In January, ICC judges concluded that Duterte's health condition allowed him to follow the hearings. They asked him to appear in court in person rather than participate via video link from the detention center.
Charges in the case
Duterte was president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He was arrested and brought to The Hague in March 2025. He was charged with crimes against humanity in connection with allegedly creating, funding and arming death squads that targeted drug sellers and users.
The arrest warrant states that Duterte is allegedly responsible for a large-scale and systematic campaign that resulted in thousands of killings between 2011 and 2019, including during the period when he was mayor of the southern city of Davao. ICC prosecutors said that up to 30,000 people may have been killed during the campaign. Philippine police reported 6,200 suspects killed during anti-drug operations. Duterte himself claimed that he had ordered police to act within the bounds of self-defense.
