Duterte appears at ICC hearing over murder charges

Former Philippines 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, while the ICC set a pretrial hearing for September 23 to assess the strength of the prosecution's evidence. If convicted, Duterte could face life imprisonment. Protests occurred in the Philippines, with families of victims demanding justice. Supporters of Duterte claim the arrest is illegal, while human rights groups view it as a significant step toward accountability for past abuses.