Duterte faces ICC court, charges via video link

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands - Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday faced via video link the International Criminal Court, where he is facing murder allegations stemming from his deadly "war on drugs."

According to the ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah, Duterte is at the detention center while his counsel was present at the court.

The 79-year-old Duterte was tired after flying to the Netherlands from the Philippines following his arrest and was permitted to attend the session via video link, Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc told the court.

He had "a long journey with considerable time difference," she said.

The court read to Duterte the charges against him related to the killings under his administration's war on drugs.

He was also informed of his rights under the Rome Statute.

Duterte, wearing a blue suit and tie and appearing frail, confirmed his identity and age.

The proceedings began at 2:34 p.m. and ended at 2:59 p.m.

The next hearing on the confirmation of the charges has been set for Sept. 23, 2025.

"After assessing all factors, including the need for the parties and participants to adequately prepare, as well as Mr. Duterte's rights, including his right to be tried within a reasonable time, the date for the commencement of the confirmation of charges hearing is September 23, 2025," Motoc said.

"I would add that in accordance with Rule 1217 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, this date may be postponed by the Chamber depending on the progress of the proceedings, either on its own motion or at the request of the prosecutor or the defense," she added.

Daughter in the gallery

Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Robin Padilla, and former presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque were in the gallery during the proceedings.

Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Jose Eduardo Malaya III was also present.

Roque said he, former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and a British attorney in the list of ICC counsels will be Duterte's lawyers before the tribunal.

Only Medialdea appeared in person before the court on Friday. He told the court of the Duterte camp's position that Philippine authorities kidnapped the former president.

He adverted to what he called "an unlikely alliance" between President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and "a troubled legal institution desperate for a prize catch and a legal show."

"Two days ago, the whole world witnessed the degrading fashion in which the former president of a sovereign country was bundled into a private aircraft and somberly transported to the Hague. To us lawyers, this would be called an extrajudicial rendition," Medialdea said.

"To the less-legally inclined, this is a pure and simple kidnapping. My client was denied all access to the legal recourse in the country of his citizenship, and this all in the nature of political score-settling," he added.

'Unlikely alliance'

Medialdea told the court of the elderly Duterte being taken to the hospital for observation and how he saw him only on Friday morning "with less than an hour to discuss legal issues."

Motoc said, "There will be a full procedure that will unfurl leading up to the confirmation of charges that will enable Mr. Duterte to raise all the matters that you have just raised with regard to the warrant of arrest, with regard to the crimes committed, with regard to the charges and any other matters associated with his arrest and the matters of jurisdiction of the court." 

"You have the opportunity to do this throughout these proceedings leading up to the actual confirmation of charges hearing," she added.

Duterte arrived in the Netherlands on a flight from Manila on Wednesday and was taken into ICC custody after being arrested by authorities on an ICC warrant.

Prosecutors have accused him of crimes against humanity for what they call a systematic attack on the civilian population.

Thousands of purported drug dealers and users were killed during the crackdown when death squads he allegedly created and armed carried out widespread extrajudicial killings.

Chartered plane

Duterte arrived at Rotterdam airport on a chartered plane Wednesday and was transferred to a detention unit on the Dutch coast up the road from the ICC building. In a video message on social media, he took responsibility for his actions.

Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, is set to be the first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the ICC, a court of last resort created more than two decades ago to prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, aggression and genocide.

During an initial appearance, judges usually summarise the allegations against a suspect, who will not be asked to enter a plea.

The ageing former president will also be asked about his condition and the conditions in detention.

Duterte has said that he suffers from a series of ailments including a chronic neuromuscular disorder, back problems, migraines and a condition that can cause blockages in the blood vessels.

Duterte's surrender to the court marks a big victory for Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, who faces U.S. sanctions over his arrest warrant for Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu.

After the initial appearance, the court will likely set a confirmation of charges hearing in several months, when prosecutors can present part of their evidence and judges decide what charges can be in the indictment. A trial would not be expected to start until early 2026. — Reuters with reports from Andy Peñafuerte III, Saleema Refran, Jiselle Anne C. Casucian, and Sherylin Untalan/BAP/NB, GMA Integrated News