The 79-year-old former president made his first appearance at the ICC during its pre-trial hearing, during which the judges verified his identity, informed him of the charges against him, and enumerated his rights.
He appeared before the court on live video but was represented in court by counsel Salvador Medialdea, his executive secretary during his term.
Duterte was arrested on the morning of Tuesday, March 11, under a warrant issued to Interpol by the ICC for his crimes against humanity case arising from his drug war, during which thousands of suspects were killed, reportedly for resisting arrest or fighting back at law enforcers.
Interpol was assisted in the arrest by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Duterte was taken to Villamor Air Base, where he boarded a chartered flight to the Netherlands that night.
The plane landed at Rotterdam The Hague Airport on Wednesday, March 12, and the former president was put under ICC custody shortly on arrival.
Following is an excerpt from the ICC website regarding Duterte’s initial appearance:
“Mr Duterte is suspected of murder qualified as a crime against humanity, allegedly committed in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019. During this time, Mr Duterte was, at varying times, the President of the Philippines, the Mayor of Davao City, and, allegedly, the head of the Davao Death Squad.
“During the initial appearance hearing, the judges will verify the identity of the suspect and the language in which he is able to follow the proceedings. He will be informed of the charges against him and of his rights under the ICC Rome Statute. Pre-Trial Chamber I is composed of Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc (Presiding judge) and Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera.”
March 26 , 2025 – 05:55 AM
The three children of former President Rodrigo Duterte are pressing the Supreme Court to grant their habeas corpus petitions.
March 25 , 2025 – 03:01 PM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s youngest daughter has argued that the petition for a habeas corpus she filed for her father is not yet moot.
March 25 , 2025 – 02:35 PM
The government has “no commitment” to comply with the ICC if it issues a freeze order on the assets of former President Rodrigo Duterte, a Palace official said.
March 25 , 2025 – 12:14 PM
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa confirmed that his security details were recalled by the Philippine National Police days after the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
March 24 , 2025 – 09:39 PM
China has not received any application for asylum from former President Rodrigo Duterte and his family, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.
March 24 , 2025 – 07:31 PM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte did not seek asylum in China, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun.
March 24 , 2025 – 04:24 PM
Through a letter, the Palace said it would invoke executive privilege during the hearing on former President Duterte’s arrest by the ICC.
March 24 , 2025 – 10:50 AM
The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I has ordered the prosecution and the defense teams of former President Rodrigo Duterte to disclose evidence by April.
March 24 , 2025 – 09:04 AM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte believes he has no case to answer at the International Criminal Court, Vice President Sara Duterte said Sunday.
March 23 , 2025 – 05:54 PM
Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa on Sunday claimed that politics “blinded” the government’s standards in upholding constitutional guarantees for all Filipinos.
March 18 , 2025 – 07:48 PM
A group of church leaders on Tuesday said that the arrest of Duterte for crimes against humanity upholds “God’s gift to human dignity.”
March 18 , 2025 – 06:58 PM
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is not making any statements on the move taken by supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte to spam the social media pages of the judge who presided over the ex-president’s appearance before the tribunal.
March 18 , 2025 – 06:08 PM
Ex-Pres. Duterte’s lead counsel and former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea was rushed to hospital in The Hague on Tuesday
March 18 , 2025 – 05:48 PM
The government has asked the Supreme Court to reject the consolidated habeas corpus petitions for former President Rodrigo Duterte.
March 18 , 2025 – 05:47 PM
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) filed an inciting to sedition complaint against one of its officers for his social media posts in the aftermath of the arrest of President Rodrigo Dutert
March 17 , 2025 – 11:49 PM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte is craving for tuyo or fried fish, munggo, and fried bananas, his legal counsel said.
March 17 , 2025 – 11:29 PM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte has nine co-perpetrators in the implementation of his drug war, the International Criminal Court (ICC) said.
March 17 , 2025 – 10:13 PM
It is part of the Senate’s “responsibility” to surrender Dela Rosa once the ICC warrant for him arrives, an ICC-accredited lawyer, said.
March 17 , 2025 – 09:13 PM
How can you save a client whose biggest witness against him is himself?
March 17 , 2025 – 07:41 PM
Rights watchdog Karapatan has urged the Dutch government to reject former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s application for asylum in The Netherlands.
March 17 , 2025 – 05:56 PM
The International Criminal Court (ICC)’s arrest warrant against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has sparked a firestorm of reactions
March 17 , 2025 – 05:18 PM
The bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Occidental and a cause-oriented group welcomed the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte
March 17 , 2025 – 05:12 PM
“A moment for justice to be served and our nation to heal. “This was how former Iloilo City mayor Mabilog described the arrest of Duterte.
March 17 , 2025 – 05:07 PM
The social media attacks on the ICC judge handling former President Duterte’s case may adversely affect his interim release plea.
March 17 , 2025 – 04:37 PM
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque will file a formal application to seek asylum in The Netherlands.
March 17 , 2025 – 04:11 PM
Almost 50,000 people participated in rallies following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, according to the Philippine National Police.
March 17 , 2025 – 04:06 PM
Investigators from the ICC have not contacted the Senate to request documents related to the previous administration’s war on drugs, Chiz Escudero said.
March 17 , 2025 – 03:56 PM
PNP is ready to cooperate with any investigation into former Pres. Duterte’s arrest, following Sen. Imee Marcos’ call for an urgent Senate probe on the matter.
March 17 , 2025 – 03:27 PM
The PNP has reiterated its commitment to assist the Interpol in implementing arrest orders from the International Criminal Court.
March 17 , 2025 – 03:03 PM
Senate President Francis Escudero is hoping that the chamber’s public inquiry on the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte will not further “deepen wounds” among Filipinos.
March 17 , 2025 – 02:55 PM
The Office of the Solicitor General has recused itself from the consolidated habeas corpus cases filed by the children of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
March 17 , 2025 – 02:02 PM
Ex-President Rodrigo Duterte’ supporters are spamming the social media posts of the International Criminal Court judge overseeing his case, according to a lawyer.
March 17 , 2025 – 01:45 PM
Undersecretary Claire Castro on Monday said it might be better for Duterte supporters to also call for the return of Harry Roque, not just the former president.
March 17 , 2025 – 01:00 PM
Senate President Francis Escudero confirms Sen. Bato dela Rosa could take sanctuary in the Senate in case an arrest warrant be issued
March 17 , 2025 – 12:22 PM
The Palace rejected Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s claim that President Marcos showed no gratitude following Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest.
March 17 , 2025 – 10:34 AM
Presidential sister and Senator Imee Marcos is calling for an urgent Senate investigation into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
March 17 , 2025 – 10:07 AM
To mark the sixth anniversary of the country’s pullout from the Rome Statute, a human rights group urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to rejoin the International Criminal Court.
March 17 , 2025 – 09:41 AM
Ex-President Rodrigo Duterte does not deserve the treatment he was put through, his common-law-wife Honeylet Avancena says.
March 17 , 2025 – 05:55 AM
Sen. Dela Rosa emerged as a repeatedly cited figure in the ICC prosecution’s urgent application for ex-President Duterte’s arrest.
March 17 , 2025 – 05:45 AM
The time gap between Rodrigo Duterte’s initial appearance before the ICC and the confirmation of charges in September will be crucial.
March 17 , 2025 – 05:35 AM
Die-hard supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte here launched a unity walk at the Araw ng Dabaw celebration to call for his return.
March 16 , 2025 – 08:09 PM
Archbishop Socrates Villegas has urged Filipinos to “widen the space for sobriety” following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
March 16 , 2025 – 07:05 PM
Senator Bong Go and supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte turned emotional during a prayer gathering for the former leader situation.
March 16 , 2025 – 01:21 PM
Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte criticized the “illegal” arrest and detention of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte
March 16 , 2025 – 05:32 AM
Malacañang on Saturday said the wheels of justice have finally started to turn for former President Duterte as he faced the ICC
March 16 , 2025 – 05:30 AM
The denial by ICC of a motion and the passive reaction of the judges indicated that the tribunal avoids politicizing the case.
March 15 , 2025 – 04:52 PM
Former Presi. Duterte appointed a British lawyer to be his lead counsel before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
March 15 , 2025 – 04:39 PM
The government will not intervene as ex-pres. Duterte begins preparing for his defense against the charges of crimes against humanity
March 15 , 2025 – 01:27 PM
As former Duterte stated his name for the ICC on Friday, a murmur of disdain crept through a cramped room in a Manila church.
March 15 , 2025 – 12:50 PM
Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea appears to be spreading misinformation on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s medical condition.
March 15 , 2025 – 12:07 PM
Justice is “starting to roll down” after the ICC held its “fair” pre-trial on former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s drug war case.
March 15 , 2025 – 10:41 AM
“Yung lahat ng sinasabi ngayon, ano ito, first step towards accountability, justice, na pinagdaanan din ni Senator Leila,” says Leni Robredo
March 15 , 2025 – 10:02 AM
On December 14, 2025, the ICC held the initial pre-trial hearing in the case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
March 15 , 2025 – 06:15 AM
It was mainly intended to confirm his identity and set some matters of procedure. It was over in under 30 minutes.
March 15 , 2025 – 06:10 AM
Lawmakers criticized Sen. Ronald dela Rosa for his plan to seek Senate protection while he exhausts legal options before facing the International Criminal Court.
March 15 , 2025 – 06:05 AM
A court in Canada has denied the application for permanent residence of former police officer Josue Limmong Ahuday for participating in the drug war.
March 15 , 2025 – 04:19 AM
Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday told her relatives to secure their valuables after her brother claimed that a “search warrant” for them is now in the offing.
March 15 , 2025 – 02:50 AM
The International Criminal Court has junked former President Rodrigo Duterte’s plea to reschedule his first court appearance.
March 15 , 2025 – 01:57 AM
Vice President Sara Duterte said she would not return to the Philippines until she forms the legal team of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
March 15 , 2025 – 01:01 AM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte is well rested but misses Filipino food, his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte said on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
March 15 , 2025 – 01:01 AM
“There will be a day of reckoning for all.” This was the message of former President Rodrigo Duterte to his supporters.
March 15 , 2025 – 12:53 AM
Surrendering former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court does not mean the Philippine judicial system is not working.
March 15 , 2025 – 12:04 AM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s counsel on Friday questioned the legality of the former leader’s layover in Dubai before he arrived in The Hague.
March 14 , 2025 – 11:25 PM
The ICC on Friday set the confirmation of charges hearing for former President Rodrigo Duterte on Sept. 23, 2025, interim release possible.
March 14 , 2025 – 11:09 PM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte was unable to physically attend the pre-trial hearing at the International Criminal Court on Friday due to health problems.
March 14 , 2025 – 10:23 PM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest is a “pure and simple kidnapping,” according to his legal counsel and former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
March 14 , 2025 – 09:55 PM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte made his first appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) “at a distance,” its spokesperson said on Friday.
March 14 , 2025 – 09:17 PM
Duterte was expected to make his first appearance at the ICC to face crimes against humanity charges over his deadly narcotics crackdown
March 14 , 2025 – 07:49 PM
“Huwag natin kalimutan ang problema ng bayan ay hindi ang mga Duterte.”(Let us not forget that the country’s problem is not the Dutertes.)
March 14 , 2025 – 06:10 PM
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was spotted on Friday in The Hague, Netherlands, where former President Rodrigo Duterte is detained.
March 14 , 2025 – 08:59 PM
Progressive groups called for the conviction of former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity ahead of his first ICC trial.
March 14 , 2025 – 06:45 PM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs has always faced strong opposition on the home front.
March 14 , 2025 – 02:03 PM
The government will make sure that he will get a “fair trial” for his charges on crimes against humanity during the drug war.
March 14 , 2025 – 07:25 AM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte will face the pre-trial of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands on Friday.
March 14 , 2025 – 10:47 AM
Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said he wanted his former executive secretary – Salvador Medialdea – to be his legal counsel.
