In The Hague, Netherlands, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared on Friday via videoconference in front of judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC). His appearance came soon after his arrest in Manila on charges related to murders committed during his controversial “war on drugs,” which was widely criticized for its lethal methods while he was in office. Duterte, 79, engaged with the court from a detention center situated roughly 1.5 kilometers away from the main building.
Victims’ families have long awaited this moment, viewing his appearance as a beacon of hope. Conversely, Duterte’s staunch supporters decried the arrest as unlawful. His attorney, Salvador Medialdea, contended in the hearing that Duterte’s detainment in Manila amounted to “pure and simple kidnapping.” Medialdea claimed that Duterte was denied access to legal remedies in his home country, describing the ordeal as politically motivated.
Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc scheduled a pretrial hearing for September 23 to determine if the evidence warrants a full trial. Should the case proceed and end in a conviction, Duterte could face a lifetime prison sentence. Death toll estimates during Duterte’s presidency vary significantly, with police reporting over 6,000 deaths, while human rights advocates suggest figures as high as 30,000.
Judge Motoc allowed Duterte to participate in the initial hearing via videoconference due to his recent long-distance flight. During the hearing, Duterte listened with headphones, sometimes with closed eyes, and spoke in English when confirming his personal information. The hearing, which had a delayed start, lasted approximately half an hour. According to Medialdea, Duterte is under hospital observation due to health concerns. The judge stated that the court’s doctor found Duterte to be mentally capable of participating in the proceedings.
Duterte’s arrest took place amid turbulent scenes upon his return to the Philippines from Hong Kong. He was quickly flown to the Netherlands under escort. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, visited him in the detention facility and addressed a gathering of his supporters, indicating that he is in “good spirits” and “well taken care of,” though he misses Filipino cuisine. She condemned the arrest as political, promising a future “day of reckoning” amid chants of support from the crowd.
Meanwhile, demonstrators throughout the Philippine capital demanded justice for the numerous casualties of Duterte’s stern anti-drug operations. Families of the deceased gathered around screens in the Philippines to observe the ICC proceedings, some holding photographs of their loved ones as the charges were read out. This was viewed by many as a pivotal step in seeking justice for the alleged abuses during Duterte’s term.
Duterte faces accusations as an “indirect co-perpetrator” of numerous murders, amounting to a crime against humanity. These acts are alleged to have taken place from 2011 to 2019, during his tenure both as Davao’s mayor and later as the country’s president. The prosecution alleges Duterte commanded police and other agents known as the Davao Death Squads to eliminate criminals, including drug traffickers.
The warrant for Duterte’s arrest was supported by evidence collected by prosecutors, including witness statements, Duterte’s speeches, official documents, and video footage. Human rights organizations and the families of victims see Duterte’s apprehension as a monumental step against impunity at a state level. However, his supporters criticized the Philippine government’s decision to transfer Duterte to a court they claim has no jurisdiction.
Duterte’s legal team argued that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s government should not have allowed the ICC to take custody of Duterte since the Philippines is no longer a party to the court. Medialdea described the situation as an alliance between “two troubled entities”: an incumbent president aiming to suppress Duterte’s legacy and an embattled international court facing challenges to its legitimacy. Judges justified the ICC’s jurisdiction as the alleged crimes occurred before the Philippines’ withdrawal from the court in 2019.