Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is set to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Friday, the court announced.
Duterte, 79, arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday to face charges of crimes against humanity related to his controversial “war on drugs,” which allegedly led to the extrajudicial killings of at least 43 people between 2011 and 2019.
The ICC stated on Thursday that Duterte’s initial appearance is scheduled for 2 PM local time (1300 GMT) and will be broadcast with a 30-minute delay.
“During the initial hearing, judges will confirm the suspect’s identity and the language in which he can follow the proceedings,” the court’s statement read. “He will also be informed of the charges against him and his rights under the Rome Statute of the ICC.”
Duterte was detained at Manila airport on Tuesday under an ICC-issued arrest warrant and was transferred to The Hague on Wednesday, according to the court.
Serving as president from 2016 to 2022, Duterte spearheaded a brutal anti-drug campaign.
Official police figures estimate that around 6,000 people were killed in the crackdown. However, human rights organizations argue the true number could be as high as 30,000, with many killings conducted without due process.
The ICC’s arrest warrant cites “reasonable grounds” to believe that Duterte is personally responsible for killings that may constitute crimes against humanity—both as mayor of Davao City and later as president.
