Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appears in court in The Hague
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte attended a hearing Wednesday at the International Criminal Court, where he’s facing charges of crimes against humanity, smiling and waving to supporters during his first public appearance in over a year. The ex-leader is accused of murder and attempted murder for his alleged involvement in dozens of […] The post Former…
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made a rare public appearance on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, as he appeared in court at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The 81-year-old ex-leader faced charges of crimes against humanity for his alleged role in drug-related killings during his tenure. Dressed in a black suit and white shirt, Duterte smiled and waved to supporters during the pretrial hearing, which mainly focused on scheduling matters before the trial's official commencement expected in November.
Despite his denial of the charges, his legal team had previously sought to dismiss the case on medical grounds, but judges denied the request and confirmed he was fit to stand trial. The International Criminal Court has been investigating mass killings carried out during Duterte's time as both mayor and president of the Philippines.
The death toll is estimated between 6,000 and 30,000, depending on the source. The presiding judge expressed her expectation for Duterte's presence at the hearing unless there was a medical issue. Relatives of the victims held a group vigil in Manila, demanding justice for the slain civilians. Protesters also gathered outside the court to support the proceedings.
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