Duterte to face ICC in initial appearance on March 14

The ICC Courtroom

DAVAO CITY —Former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is set to make his initial appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 14:00 (The Hague local time/ at 9 p.m. (Philippine time) before Pre-Trial Chamber I.

Duterte was arrested by Philippine authorities on March 7, 2025, in compliance with an ICC-issued warrant that was initially under seal. He was surrendered to ICC custody on March 12, 2025, and is now being held at the Court’s detention center in The Hague.

The former Philippine leader is suspected of murder as a crime against humanity, allegedly committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019. During this period, he served in various roles, including President of the Philippines, Mayor of Davao City, and, allegedly, the leader of the Davao Death Squad, an infamous vigilante group accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings.

During the initial appearance, the ICC judges will verify Duterte’s identity and determine the language in which he can follow the proceedings. They will also inform him of the charges against him under the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC, and outline his rights as a suspect before the Court.

The Pre-Trial Chamber I presiding over the case is composed of:

• Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc (Presiding Judge)
• Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou
• Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera

Public and Media Access to the Hearing. The hearing will be streamed online with a 30-minute delay in English and French via the ICC website.

For those attending in person:

Diplomatic corps, civil society members, and the public can request attendance via ICCVisits@icc-cpi.int before March 14 at 11:00 AM (The Hague local time).

Journalists must request accreditation through PublicAffairs.Unit @icc-cpi.int before the same deadline. A valid press card and government-issued ID are required for entry.

Location: ICC Headquarters – Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK, The Hague, Netherlands.

Due to limited seating, attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Confirmation from the ICC is required for entry. Attendees are advised to arrive at least 20 minutes before the hearing starts.

This marks a historic moment in international justice, as Duterte becomes the first former Philippine president to stand trial before the ICC.

His legal team is expected to challenge the Court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019. However, ICC prosecutors maintain that the alleged crimes occurred while the country was still under the Court’s jurisdiction.