March 14, 2025
MANILA – Former President Rodrigo Duterte will appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, on Friday afternoon (Friday night Manila time) for his initial pre-trial hearing over crimes against humanity charges related to his war on drugs.
“Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s initial appearance is scheduled to take place on Friday, 14 March 2025 at 14:00 hours (The Hague local time or 9:00 p.m. Philippine time), before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court,” the ICC said in an advisory.
The Pre-Trial Chamber I, composed of presiding judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc and judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera, will oversee the hearing.
“During the initial appearance hearing, the judges will verify the identity of the suspect and the language in which he is able to follow the proceedings,” the ICC said.
“He will be informed of the charges against him and of his rights under the ICC Rome Statute,” it added.
Duterte’s arrest and transfer to ICC custody
Duterte arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday night (Manila time) and was turned over to the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen, The Hague. His arrest in Manila came amid worsening relations between his family and the Marcos administration.
READ: Where Duterte awaits trial: A look at the ICC detention center
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte—Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter—are embroiled in political conflict, with the latter facing an impeachment trial over allegations including an assassination plot against Marcos.
Sara Duterte, who is in the Netherlands to support her father, has denounced his arrest as “oppression and persecution.” The Duterte family also sought an emergency injunction from the Supreme Court to block his transfer to the ICC, but it was unsuccessful.
Charges and reactions
Duterte, 79, is accused of crimes against humanity, particularly murder, over his anti-drug campaign, which rights groups claim led to tens of thousands of deaths. The ICC’s case against him covers crimes allegedly committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019, when the country was still a party to the Rome Statute.
During this period, Duterte served as the President of the Philippines, the Mayor of Davao City, and was allegedly the head of the so-called Davao Death Squad.
While the Philippine government officially reports around 6,000 deaths from the drug war, human rights watchdogs and the ICC prosecutor estimate the death toll to be between 12,000 and 30,000, including alleged extrajudicial killings.
Upon arriving in The Hague, Duterte appeared to acknowledge his responsibility, saying in a Facebook video: “I have been telling the police, the military, that it was my job and I am responsible.”
International and legal implications
Chief ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan hailed Duterte’s arrest as a crucial step toward accountability.
“Many say that international law is not as strong as we want, and I agree with that. But as I also repeatedly emphasize, international law is not as weak as some may think,” Khan said.
The case also comes at a sensitive time for the ICC, as it faces mounting political pressure. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the court over its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Despite this, Duterte’s arrest has been welcomed by human rights advocates. Lawyer Gilbert Andres, who represents drug war victims, said, “My clients are very thankful to God because their prayers have been answered. The arrest of Rodrigo Duterte is a great signal for international criminal justice. It means that no one is above the law.”
What’s next for Duterte?
According to ICC rules, at the initial hearing, a suspect may request interim release while awaiting trial. Following the first appearance, the next step will be a confirmation of charges hearing, where the prosecutor’s evidence will be evaluated. The court will then determine whether to proceed to a full trial—a process that could take 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.