During the initial appearance, the judge summarised the allegations against Duterte, who was not asked to enter a plea.
Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, is set to be the first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the ICC, a court of last resort created more than two decades ago to prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, aggression and genocide.
Duterte has said that he suffers from a series of ailments, including a chronic neuromuscular disorder, back problems, migraines and a condition that can cause blockages in the blood vessels.
Duterte’s surrender to the court marks a big victory for Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, who faces US sanctions over his arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
At the end of the hearing, judges set a confirmation of charges hearing to start on Sep 23, when prosecutors can present part of their evidence and judges decide what charges can be in the indictment. A trial would not be expected to start until early 2026.
