Duterte attends ICC pre-trial hearing via video link

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on a screen in the courtroom of the International Criminal Court (ICC) with his lawyer Salvador Medialdea seated left, in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, March 14, 2025. Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte failed to appear in person and instead made his first appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) “at a distance,” its spokesperson said on Friday.

“Mr. Duterte is present and attending the proceedings via video link,” ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah told reporters in a message thread.

“As Mr. Duterte made a long journey … the Chamber authorized Mr. Duterte to follow the hearing at a distance. His counsel, however, is present with us in the courtroom,” the message continued.

Duterte faced the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I, composed of Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc and judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera.

LIVE UPDATES: Rodrigo Duterte under trial at ICC

The 79-year-old, the first ex-Asian head of state to face charges at the ICC, was following by videolink during a short hearing to inform him of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, as well as his rights as a defendant.

Sounding frail and wearing a blue suit and tie, he spoke briefly to confirm his name and date of birth. The presiding judge allowed him to follow proceedings in absentia due to his long flight to The Hague.

Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea was present as one of Duterte’s legal counsels.

Vice President Sara Duterte is also in The Hague together with former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Sen. Robin Padilla.

READ: Harry Roque spotted in The Hague with Sara Duterte, Robin Padilla

Duterte arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday night (Manila time) and was turned over to the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen, The Hague.

He was the subject of an arrest warrant by the ICC over crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011 and March 16 2019.

The country was still a party to the Rome Statute which created the ICC accord during this period.

In March 2018, Duterte declared the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute or the treaty which established the criminal court.

But the withdrawal took effect a year after or in March 2019, so the ICC retained jurisdiction over alleged crimes in the Philippines based on the time when the country was still a member.

The war against illegal drugs that took place during Duterte’s presidential term claimed at least 6,000 lives, according to official government data.

Human rights watchdogs and the ICC prosecutor estimated the death toll to be between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019.

They said several of these incidents were extrajudicial killings. With reports from Luisa Cabato/INQUIRER.net and Agence France-Presse