Rodrigo Duterte to Appear in Court in The Hague

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to appear in court in The Hague on Wednesday, marking his first public appearance in over a year. The presiding judge at the International Criminal Court indicated that the 81-year-old is expected to attend a pretrial hearing.

Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity linked to his controversial war on drugs, which allegedly resulted in numerous killings during his tenure as mayor and president. Although he has missed several hearings due to medical reasons, judges determined in January that he is fit to stand trial.

The upcoming hearing will focus on evidence disclosure and establishing a trial timetable, with proceedings expected to commence in November. The ICC has been investigating mass killings associated with Duterte's policies since 2018, with death toll estimates varying widely. In a related context, the Philippine Senate has also initiated an impeachment trial for Duterte's daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, on separate charges.