Allies, victims' families react to Rodrigo Duterte's first in-person ICC appearance

Allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte and families of victims of his administration’s war on drugs reacted to his first in-person appearance before the International Criminal Court on Wednesday.

Dressed in a black suit and white shirt, Duterte attended the third status conference in his crimes against humanity case as part of preparations for his trial, which is set to begin on November 30.

Duterte was arrested and taken to The Hague on March 12, 2025. He last appeared before the ICC via video link on March 14, 2025.

On Facebook, Senator Robin Padilla posted photos of Duterte’s appearance before Trial Chamber III, captioned simply, “Tatay.”

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who served as Duterte’s aide for more than two decades, also posted images from the status conference, captioned, “Tatay Digong.”

“We’re happy that he has finally appeared and that he looks OK. In fact, he looks like he has put on weight,” said Llore Pasco, whose two sons were killed during Duterte’s war on drugs, as she watched a television broadcast of the hearing from Manila.

“When I saw Duterte’s face, I felt a sense of relief, knowing that he is still there in The Hague. He cannot leave. Thank you to the ICC for taking care of Duterte there for us so that we can achieve true justice,” said Sally Ramos, the mother of another drug war casualty, in a report by Raffy Tima on “24 Oras.”

In January, ICC judges said Duterte’s health was good enough for him to follow the proceedings and requested that he appear in court in person rather than via video link from the detention unit.

The warrant for Duterte’s arrest says he was responsible for a widespread and systematic campaign that led to thousands of killings between 2011 and 2019, including during his time as mayor of Davao City.

Police said 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations, but human rights groups said the actual number could be higher.

Duterte said he had instructed police to act in self-defense and told supporters he was ready to “rot in jail” if it meant ridding the Philippines of illicit drugs. —with a report from Reuters/VBL, GMA News