Duterte appears in ICC video link during hearing

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte appeared via video link at the International Criminal Court on March 14, 2025, following his recent 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 a "pure and simple kidnapping." 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, during his time as mayor and president. His supporters argue the arrest is illegal, while victims' families view it as a step toward justice.