Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte appears at the International Criminal Court during the third status conference in the case of The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, September 16, 2026. Handout/ICC via Flickr
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (4th UPDATE) — Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte appeared in person at the International Criminal Court for the first time Wednesday, as he faces charges over his "war on drugs" that killed thousands.
The 81-year-old had appeared by video link when he was first brought to the court in The Hague, but had since skipped hearings, with his defense team saying he was too ill.
READ: Former president Duterte suffering from 'significant memory impairment' — defense
Dressed in a dark suit and white shirt with no tie, the former president sat with his chin resting on his hands as proceedings opened.
Judge Joanna Korner noted his appearance in court for the first time, and said he could leave the court at any time without seeking permission from the bench.
But he stayed throughout the hearing, which lasted one hour and 15 minutes, showing no emotion and seeming to follow proceedings through headphones.
His grandchildren, Omar and Isabelle Duterte, were among those seated in the front row of the gallery.
After the hearing, Duterte's lawyers pointed him toward the gallery, where his grandchildren and supporters were seated. He waved and smiled at them, and his grandchildren waved back.
Omar later said he was unsure whether his grandfather could see them clearly from behind the glass as they waved to each other. The two grandchildren arrived in The Hague on Monday for their scheduled family visits.
Duterte's supporters in the gallery said they were happy to see him in person but also saddened that he remains detained.
He is the first Asian former head of state to face trial at the ICC, which prosecutes individuals for the world's worst crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity, with prosecutors alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018 during his offensive against drug users and sellers.
Korner has set November 30 as the start date of the trial, which could take months or even years.
The only time Duterte had been seen since his arrest in March 2025 was an initial appearance via video, where he seemed confused and tired, his speech barely audible.
- 'It's impossible' -
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte appears at the International Criminal Court during the third status conference in the case of The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, September 16, 2026. Handout/ICC via Flickr
Wednesday's hearing was a "status hearing" for the parties and the judge to fix logistical details.
Lawyers clashed over evidence filed by the prosecution, which they said was around 15,000 pieces but the defense put at more than 62,000 documents.
"It's quite enormous. It's impossible," said defense lawyer Peter Haynes. "We haven't got a prayer of reading" such a mountain of documents before the trial starts, said Haynes.
"The current state of the case is a mess. If I had a younger, healthier client, I would invite you to put back the trial by six months... but I don't," said Duterte's lawyer.
Korner chided the prosecution for "wholesale dumping" of documents and urged the parties to work together to reduce the size of the case file.
Relatives of some of those killed in the anti-drugs campaign welcomed Duterte's appearance in court.
Randy Delos Santos, 48, an uncle of Kian Delos Santos, a teenager killed by police in August 2017, when Duterte was president, told AFP: "Of course, we are very happy that he is now able to attend in person.
READ: Victims urge ICC to keep Rodrigo Duterte behind bars before trial
"We hope that his being physically fit will help speed up the hearings," Santos told AFP in Manila.
In a submission published Tuesday, Duterte's lawyers said he suffered from "significant memory impairment that prevents him from retaining recent information and reliably accessing memories".
Judges are weighing whether he is mentally fit to be tried and have ordered a medical assessment by three experts.
That assessment has not been made public but Duterte's defense cited the results of examinations contained in the report.
According to the defense, these examination showed Duterte thinks he is living in 2007 or 2008, that he is 84 or 85 years old, and could not recall the name of the current US president.
- 'Bluster and hyperbole' -
During hearings in February, the prosecution alleged Duterte killed thousands of suspected drug dealers and users, first as mayor of Davao City, then as president.
The true number of killings during his campaign in the Philippines is thought to be in the thousands, and lawyers for the victims have argued that a full trial could encourage more families to come forward.
His then defense lawyer Nicolas Kaufman told the court in February his client "absolutely" maintained his innocence.
Kaufman told ICC judges the evidence against Duterte was "wholly insufficient" and the charges "grievously misplaced and politically motivated".
He argued that while Duterte used "bluster and hyperbole" in his speeches, he also frequently ordered authorities only to shoot in self-defense.
Duterte remains popular in the Philippines, where many favored his tough approach to crime.
— with a report from Jofelle Tesorio, ABS-CBN News
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