Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appears in court in The Hague

The Hague, Netherlands — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte entered a courtroom on Wednesday, marking his first public appearance in more than a year. The 81-year-old ex-leader faced charges of crimes against humanity, smiling and waving to supporters as he appeared before the International Criminal Court. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in numerous killings during his war on drugs while in office.

Despite his denial of the allegations, Duterte appeared in a black suit and crisp white shirt for the pretrial hearing. The session predominantly focused on scheduling matters, with the official trial beginning expected in November. Arrested in the Philippines in March 2025, Duterte was subsequently sent to The Hague, where he had made his initial appearance via video link from the court's detention center.

His legal team had previously sought to have the case dismissed on medical grounds; however, the judges denied this request and ruled that Duterte was fit enough to stand trial.