Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte appears in person at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Wednesday for the first time in more than a year, after being transferred to the court about 18 months earlier. Sources say the 81-year-old appears in a courtroom setting for a pretrial hearing, in which judges consider procedural matters for his case.
The outlets report that Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity tied to his “war on drugs,” alleging involvement in killings during the crackdown while he led as mayor and later as president. He denies the charges. Several reports note that Duterte had missed hearings and that his absence was previously attributed to medical reasons, while the court ruled in January that he was healthy enough to stand trial. The June pretrial hearing included comments by the presiding judge indicating his attendance was expected unless medical issues arise.
Reporting also highlights the next phase of the case: outlets say the hearing addresses evidence disclosure and helps set a timetable, with trial proceedings expected to open in November. Interaksyon adds that Duterte’s lawyers argue for unfitness based on cognitive decline, while ICC prosecutors contend the crackdown may have resulted in large numbers of deaths, citing alleged killings.
