Duterte expected at ICC for status conference ahead of murder trial

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to appear at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Wednesday for a status conference, marking his first public appearance in over a year as he faces charges of crimes against humanity. The hearing, scheduled for September 16, 2026, will address evidence disclosure and set a timetable for his trial, which is set to begin on November 30, 2026. Duterte, 81, was arrested in March 2025 and transferred to the ICC detention center in the Netherlands. He has missed several hearings since his arrest, with medical reasons cited for his absence. However, ICC judges ruled in January 2026 that he was healthy enough to stand trial and requested his physical presence in court. The presiding judge, Joanna Korner, indicated in June that the court expected him to attend unless there was a medical issue. The charges against Duterte stem from his alleged role in a widespread and systematic campaign of killings during his so-called war on drugs, first as mayor of Davao City and later as president from 2016 to 2022. Prosecutors allege that police and government hit squads carried out dozens of killings at his orders.