Former Philippines President Duterte’s First Appearance at the International Court Scheduled for Today

The Hague:

Rodrigo Duterte’s first appearance at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been scheduled for Friday, the court announced, as the former Philippine president faces charges of crimes against humanity related to his deadly war on drugs.

“The Chamber considers it appropriate for the first appearance of Mr. Duterte to take place on Friday, 14 March 2025, at 14:00 hours (1300 GMT),” the court said in a statement released late on Thursday.

The 79-year-old will appear before judges for a hearing where he will be informed of the crimes he is accused of, as well as his rights as a defendant.

Duterte is accused of the crime against humanity of murder over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers, which rights groups say has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people.

Upon arriving in The Hague, the former leader seemed to accept responsibility for his actions, stating in a Facebook video: “I have been telling the police, the military, that it was my job and I am responsible.”

Duterte’s dramatic arrest in Manila came amid a significant breakdown in relations between his family and the Marcos family, who had previously allied to govern the Philippines.

Current President Ferdinand Marcos and Vice-President Sara Duterte—Rodrigo’s daughter—are in conflict, with the latter facing an impeachment trial over charges including an alleged assassination plot against Marcos.

Sara Duterte is in the Netherlands to support her father, after denouncing his arrest as “oppression and persecution.” The Duterte family has sought an emergency injunction from the Supreme Court to halt his transfer to the ICC.

However, victims of the “war on drugs” hope that Duterte will finally face justice for his alleged crimes.

Gilbert Andres, a lawyer representing victims of the drug war, told AFP: “My clients are very thankful to God because their prayers have been answered.”

“The arrest of Rodrigo Duterte is a significant signal for international criminal justice. It means that no one is above the law,” Andres added.

– ‘Presumed innocent’ –

The high-profile Duterte case comes at a crucial moment for the ICC, which is facing unprecedented pressure from various sides, including US sanctions.

Last month, US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the court over what he called “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.”

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza war.

Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan hailed Duterte’s arrest as a pivotal moment for victims and for international justice as a whole.

“Many say that international law is not as strong as we want, and I agree with that. But as I also repeatedly emphasise, international law is not as weak as some may think,” Khan stated following Duterte’s arrival in ICC custody.

“When we come together… when we build partnerships, the rule of law can prevail. Warrants can be executed,” he added.

At the initial hearing, a suspect can request interim release pending a trial, according to ICC rules.

Following the first hearing, the next phase is a session to confirm the charges, during which the suspect can challenge the prosecutor’s evidence.

Only after that hearing will the court decide whether to proceed with a trial, a process that could take several months or even years.

“It’s important to underline, as we now start a new stage of proceedings, that Mr. Duterte is presumed innocent,” said Khan.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)