Duterte appears before ICC via video link

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands, following his arrival on Wednesday, March 12.

He is the first Asian former head of state to be issued an arrest warrant by the ICC for crimes against humanity.

The ICC's investigation into Duterte's drug war stems from allegations of thousands of extrajudicial killings during his time as Davao City mayor and president.

During his initial hearing on Friday, March 14, Duterte, appearing via video link, confirmed his name and date of birth, though his defense attorney claimed he was too ill to say more and called his arrest "pure and simple kidnapping."

The court doctor, however, found him to be "fully mentally aware and fit" despite the defense's claims of "debilitating" medical issues.

Prosecutors accuse the 79-year-old of carrying out a systematic attack on the civilian population, resulting in the deaths of thousands of purported drug dealers and users during a crackdown.

A lawyer representing the victims described the hearing as "a first step towards justice."