Duterte Expected in Hague for ICC Pretrial Hearing on Crimes Against Humanity

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to appear in person for a pretrial hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Wednesday, marking his first public court appearance in more than a year.

Judge Joanna Korner stated that the court expects the 81-year-old to attend the hearing, which is scheduled to discuss evidence disclosure and establish a timetable for the trial. The trial itself is slated to open in November.

Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity stemming from his alleged involvement in numerous killings during his signature "war on drugs" campaign. He previously served as mayor of Davao City before becoming president. Duterte denies the charges against him.

"We would expect Mr. Duterte to be here unless there’s some medical issue," Judge Korner said during a pre-trial hearing in June. Duterte's lead counsel, Peter Haynes, also informed the judges in June that his client was "fully aware that you’ll expect to see him sooner rather than later."

Duterte was arrested in March 2025. A scheduled appearance in September last year was delayed after a pretrial panel of judges granted a postponement to determine his fitness to stand trial. Following an assessment by medical experts, judges ruled in January that he was healthy enough to participate in the proceedings.

The ICC has been investigating alleged mass killings connected to Duterte's crackdowns since 2018. Human rights groups estimate the death toll during his presidency could be as high as 30,000, while the national police reported over 6,000. Prosecutors allege that police and government-backed hit squads carried out many killings under Duterte's orders, with perpetrators motivated by financial rewards or fear of becoming targets themselves.

Following the court's announcement of a preliminary investigation into the drug crackdowns in February 2018, Duterte declared the Philippines' withdrawal from the ICC. However, judges rejected a bid by Duterte's legal team to dismiss the case, ruling that countries cannot use their right to withdraw from the Rome Statute to shield individuals from justice for alleged crimes already under consideration.

Efforts to arrest others connected to the drug killings have also faced complications. In May, an attempt to apprehend Ronald Marapon dela Rosa, Duterte's former national police chief, resulted in a gunfire incident at the Philippine Senate. Dela Rosa remains at large. Separately, in July, the Philippine Senate opened an impeachment trial for Duterte's daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who faces charges including amassing unexplained wealth and threatening the family of current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. She denies the allegations.