Rights groups have said tens of thousands were killed in his antidrug campaign while he was the president of the Philippines.

Duterte, 79, appeared at the hearing via videolink, with Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc citing his prior “long journey."

The International Criminal Court has had former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrested on a warrant containing charges of murder as a crime against humanity over deadly anti-drugs crackdowns he oversaw while in office.