Hundreds of supporters of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gathered outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, as he attended his pre-trial court appearance.
The rally, held on [date], was organized as a show of solidarity for Duterte, who is facing crimes against humanity charges related to his administration’s controversial “war on drugs.”
Many of the demonstrators, primarily Filipino expatriates and loyalists, waved Philippine flags and held banners with slogans such as “We stand with Duterte” and “Justice for Duterte.”
In a statement, rally organizers said they aimed to express support for Duterte and protest what they described as a “biased” ICC process.
Duterte’s pre-trial hearing is part of the ICC’s proceedings to assess whether there is enough evidence to move forward with a full trial. The ICC has alleged that Duterte committed crimes against humanity during his presidency from 2016 to 2022, which allegedly led to thousands of deaths.
Duterte has denied the accusations, maintaining his innocence and dismissing the ICC’s investigation as “politically motivated.”
