Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has made his first in-person appearance at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. He is scheduled to be tried for alleged crimes against humanity, specifically concerning his 'war on drugs' during his presidency, which ran from 2016 to 2022.
The 81-year-old, seen wearing a dark suit and white shirt without a tie, had previously appeared via video link and missed multiple hearings since his arrest in Manila 18 months ago. The ICC called a status hearing on Wednesday after Duterte's legal team argued that his deteriorating health rendered him unfit to stand trial, a claim that prosecutors have contested.
The ICC's investigation focuses on killings from 1 November 2011, when Duterte was mayor of Davao, until 16 March 2019, when the Philippines withdrew its membership from the court. The first trial date is set for November.
Duterte's lawyer, Peter Haynes, informed the court that his client suffers from "significant memory impairment," which reportedly hinders his ability to engage with his legal team. In 2019, Duterte disclosed he had myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune condition.
His appearance at the ICC comes as his family is involved in a political struggle for control of the Philippines. His daughter, Vice-President Sara Duterte, is reportedly feuding with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, a break-up that reportedly led to Rodrigo Duterte's arrest in March 2025.