Former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, made his first appearance at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague via video link, where he faces charges of mass murder related to his controversial “war on drugs.”
The 79-year-old leader appeared remotely from the Netherlands, following his arrest in Manila earlier this week. He is accused of committing murder as a crime against humanity during his brutal anti-drug campaign.
Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, stands accused of overseeing the killings of thousands of people, including alleged drug pushers and criminals, between 2011 and 2019.
The ICC has outlined “reasonable grounds” to believe Duterte was responsible for at least 19 murders allegedly carried out by the Davao Death Squad between 2011 and 2016, as well as at least 24 other killings between 2016 and 2019, under the supervision of law enforcement and sometimes with the aid of outside individuals.
The former president’s journey to The Hague, involving a lengthy flight and a stop in Dubai for medical attention, was authorized by the court, which allowed him to attend the hearing remotely due to his health concerns.
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Duterte’s lawyer, Salvador Medialdea, claimed that the process was an “extrajudicial rendition,” referring to it as a “pure and simple kidnapping,” and raised concerns over his client’s medical condition, including hearing and vision impairments.
However, the court rejected these claims, asserting that a doctor had determined Duterte was mentally fit to participate.
The court’s indictment stems from the Philippines’ notorious war on drugs, which Duterte publicly championed.
While police reports claim over 6,000 deaths in connection with the campaign, rights groups argue the actual toll may be closer to 30,000, with many innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
