Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made his first appearance at the International Criminal Court (ICC), facing charges of crimes against humanity. Duterte appeared via video link in The Hague, undergoing interrogation regarding the charges related to his "war on drugs." This marks a significant step in holding Duterte accountable for alleged human rights violations.
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03-15, 2025Presiding Judge Yulia Motoc stated in court that the 79-year-old Duterte appeared slightly fatigued after traveling from the Philippines to the Netherlands following his arrest. She added that Duterte had experienced a "long journey and significant jet lag," acknowledging the physical strain of the international transfer.
Duterte, wearing a blue suit and tie, appeared somewhat frail. He kept his eyes closed for most of the hearing, only speaking to confirm his identity and age. He was allowed to remain seated when informed of the crimes he allegedly committed and his rights as a defendant. Duterte was not required to enter a plea at the hearing, allowing the legal process to unfold further.
His former Executive Secretary, Salvador Medialdea, represented Duterte in court and told the ICC that Duterte was "kidnapped" during his arrest and that the arrest process was "demeaning," calling it a "pure kidnapping incident." Medialdea argued that the case was "essentially political persecution" and that the transfer from the Philippines via the United Arab Emirates to the Netherlands was a "serious abuse of process," raising concerns about the legality and fairness of the proceedings.
Medialdea also claimed that Duterte was facing "debilitating medical issues" and was unable to contribute to the hearing. However, Judge Motoc stated that court doctors had confirmed that Duterte was "completely lucid and in good health." She added that Duterte and his lawyers could raise questions about his transfer to the court and his health at a later stage in the proceedings. Previously, Duterte had stated that he suffered from a range of ailments, including chronic neuromuscular disease, back problems, migraines, and a condition that could cause blood vessel blockages, which adds complexity to the legal proceedings.
The former president's daughter, current Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, attended the hearing in the public gallery. Duterte arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday on a flight from Manila, was subsequently detained by the ICC, and transferred to a detention center near the ICC building on the Dutch coast. Duterte served as President of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, and he will be the first former Asian head of state to be tried at the ICC, setting a precedent for international justice.
Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan's arrest warrant stated that Duterte's alleged crimes were "part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of the Philippines." Duterte is accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator" in multiple murders, allegedly overseeing the killings from November 2011 to March 2019, initially during his time as mayor of the southern city of Davao and later during his presidency of the Philippines. It is alleged that Duterte, as mayor of Davao City, issued orders to police and other "hitmen" comprising the so-called Davao Death Squad, further implicating him in the alleged crimes.
Khan stated that "potentially tens of thousands of killings took place" and claimed that the campaign primarily targeted impoverished men, often without evidence linking them to drugs. Documents seeking an arrest warrant from the ICC for Duterte show that prosecutors built their case using evidence including witness testimony, Duterte's own speeches, government documents, and video footage. Duterte had previously denied ordering police to kill drug suspects unless it was in self-defense, maintaining his innocence in the face of mounting evidence.
Duterte's case is expected to return to the ICC in September, when it will be determined whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, a process that could take months to years. The trial is not expected to begin before early 2026. If Duterte is found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, underscoring the gravity of the charges.
Prosecutors cited some of Duterte's remarks during his presidential campaign in their arrest warrant application. He was quoted as saying that the number of slain criminal suspects "will reach 100,000... I will kill all of you," and that the fish in Manila Bay "will grow fat because I will throw you there." Estimates of the death toll during Duterte's presidency vary – the national police report over 6,000 people, while human rights groups say the figure could be as high as 30,000, highlighting the wide range of reported casualties.
Victims' families welcomed the trial, seeing it as an opportunity to obtain justice, while Duterte's supporters believe he was "kidnapped" and sent to The Hague after a bitter conflict with the ruling Marcos family. "We are happy, we are relieved," said Melinda Albiar Lauron, 55, whose 22-year-old son, Angelo Lauron, was tortured and killed in 2016. Duterte's supporters chanted "Send him back! Send him back!" outside the court as they awaited his arrival, demonstrating the divided opinions surrounding the case.
Duterte's legal team stated that the current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s government should not have allowed the global court to detain the former leader because the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC. But the ICC judge who issued the arrest warrant stated that the crimes he is accused of occurred before the Philippines withdrew from the court. International law experts said Duterte's whirlwind arrest and surrender to the ICC provides a welcome boon for the embattled and U.S.-sanctioned court, reinforcing the ICC's authority in prosecuting international crimes.
