Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte appears in court at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Wednesday, marking his first public appearance in more than a year since his transfer about 18 months ago. He appears for a pretrial hearing and is awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity linked to alleged killings during his “war on drugs.” Duterte, 81, is reported to be dressed formally for the appearance and denies the allegations.
Multiple outlets report that Duterte had missed several earlier hearings. Medical reasons were cited for his absence, but the ICC judges ruled in January that he is healthy enough to stand trial. In June, a judge says the court would expect him to attend unless there is a medical issue. Wednesday’s hearing focuses on matters such as evidence disclosure and setting a timetable, with trial scheduled to begin in November, according to reports.
Coverage also reflects differing emphasis: some focus on the first appearance after the prolonged absence, while others highlight disputes over his health and fitness for trial. Prosecutors allege his role involved dozens of killings, while his legal team argues he is unfit due to cognitive decline.
