The International Criminal Court opens preliminary hearings for former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, accused of 78 murders in the drug war.

AMSTERDAM: The International Criminal Court will open preliminary proceedings against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.

The indictment accuses Duterte of at least 78 murders committed during the country’s “war on drugs” between 2011 and 2019.

Duterte becomes the first former head of state to face charges of crimes against humanity before the court in The Hague.

Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 10 am local time (0900 GMT).

Human rights organisations estimate that Duterte’s relentless anti-drug campaign, waged first as mayor of Davao City and then as president from 2016 to 2022, left some 30,000 victims.

The 80-year-old former leader was arrested by Philippine authorities and handed over to the court in March 2025.

Duterte will not be present in the courtroom for the hearings, a situation permissible under the court’s procedures.

Both supporters and opponents of the former president have announced plans to demonstrate outside the court building.

In these preliminary hearings, judges will examine the evidence to decide if it is sufficient to proceed to a full trial.

A decision on whether to open the main proceedings is expected in May.

 The Sun Malaysia