The International Criminal Court is set to start its hearing against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, moving the war crimes case against the one-time head of state into its next formal stage.

The ICC, seated in The Hague, will hear the case against Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016 and previously served as mayor of Davao City. The proceedings mark a rare instance in which an international criminal tribunal convenes a hearing against a former national leader from Southeast Asia.

What happens next at the court?

The hearing opens the judicial phase of the case before the ICC. The court will now proceed through the procedural steps that govern its docket, with judges weighing the charges and the legal framework applicable to the former president's conduct while in public office.

For practitioners, the significance is institutional. The case tests the ICC's jurisdiction over a state that withdrew from the Rome Statute, and it will shape how the court handles accountability claims against senior political figures from the region.

Why does this case matter?

The hearing places the conduct of the Philippine government during Duterte's tenure at the center of an international criminal process. Legal observers will watch how the court manages the case procedurally and what evidentiary and jurisdictional questions the judges address as the hearing unfolds.

The start of the hearing signals that the court considers the matter ready to advance. Further developments will follow as the proceedings continue at The Hague.