Duterte appears at ICC hearing on murder charges

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared via video link at the International Criminal Court on March 14, 2025, following his arrest on murder charges related to his controversial "war on drugs." He is currently detained in the Netherlands. Duterte's lawyer criticized the arrest as politically motivated, claiming it was illegal. The court set a pretrial hearing for September 23 to assess the strength of the prosecution's evidence against him. Prosecutors accuse Duterte of overseeing multiple murders, constituting a crime against humanity. His supporters argue the arrest is a political maneuver, while victims' families view it as a step toward justice.