Duterte’s Fans Rally in The Hague as the I.C.C. Weighs Evidence Against Him

The protests are a sign of the Philippine ex-leader’s ongoing influence, even as he faces a possible trial for the deaths of thousands during his war on drugs.Supporters of Rodrigo Duterte, the former leader of the Philippines, on Saturday outside the International Criminal Court detention center on the outskirts of The Hague.Credit...Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York TimesFeb. 23, 2026Updated 2:27 a.m. ETOn most weekends, for almost a year, Rodrigo Duterte’s die-hard Filipino supporters have gathered outside a prison in The Hague where the former president of the Philippines is being held pending trial for crimes against humanity. They play Filipino songs on speakers, lay out buffet tables and wave flags in shows of support that illustrate the former leader’s lasting influence.Hundreds of them, many from across Europe, are set to rally again for Mr. Duterte on Monday as the International Criminal Court begins five days of hearings to determine if prosecutors have enough evidence to try him for the tens of thousands of people that rights groups say were killed during his crackdown on drugs.Mr. Duterte has disputed the charges, saying that the court didn’t have the right to order his arrest. His imprisonment has given his supporters a reason to band together, instead of driving them away.He left office four years ago with an approval rating of 88 percent, reflecting broad support for his brutal campaign against illegal drugs. His record contributed to a landslide victory in 2022 for his daughter Sara Duterte, the current vice president, and could help to secure the presidency for her in 2028.His supporters’ gatherings have become a fixture outside Scheveningen Prison, where Mr. Duterte, 80, has been kept since he was flown to the Netherlands after his arrest at Manila’s main airport in March. The rallies are often broadcast on social media and featured on the news back home.“It’s a simple sacrifice to stand in the rain for a couple of hours for a Filipino who was taken without standing trial in his country,” Aldo Villarta, 35, said in a phone interview. “If they can do it to him, someone who has power, what can they do to a regular person like me?”ImageAldo Villarta posing with cutouts of Mr. Duterte.Credit...Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York TimesMr. Villarta, a cook based in the Dutch city of Leiden, takes the train to The Hague at least once every week to stand outside the prison from morning to night. He also helps to organize other supporters, including those based in Britain, Norway and other countries. Mr. Villarta said he grew up in General Santos, a city south of Davao, Mr. Duterte’s hometown.There are more than two million Filipinos who work overseas, including more than 180,000 in Europe like Mr. Villarta. Compared with the total population, it is a small constituency but one with outsized political importance: Overseas Filipino workers remit tens of billions of dollars to the Philippines every year.Mr. Duterte was elected president in 2016 after he promised to restore law and order by targeting drug pushers, petty criminals and officials he said were corrupt. That led to a crackdown by police officers, hit men and vigilantes that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, including children and people not involved in the drug trade, according to rights groups.Despite accusations of widespread human rights abuses, many overseas workers said they continued to support Duterte because they felt he made the country safer, including easing street robberies and extortion by officials at international airports in the Philippines.“I was always scared of being held back and missing work,” said Den Generalao, an office worker in the Netherlands. “Then Duterte said, ‘I’ll take care of you,’ and told officials to do their job and straighten up.”Many rejoiced when Mr. Duterte was sent to The Hague but there was dismay among overseas Filipinos who admired his policies. Mr. Duterte regularly courted the diaspora, even after he left office, reflecting the bloc’s significance to his family’s political ambitions.ImageThe International Criminal Court in The Hague.Credit...Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York TimesOverseas Filipinos, who are eligible to vote, are a small section of the electorate. But they can influence the voting behavior of their relatives in the Philippines, who depend on them as breadwinners, said Imelda Deinla, a professor at the University of New England in Australia.While politicians in the Philippines often accuse their opponents of paying people to show up at events, organizers say those who gather in The Hague are genuine Duterte supporters.“People come at their own expense,” said Quennie Laude, a Filipino businesswoman in Paris who organizes Duterte supporters in France. “They’re not being paid. They’re real supporters.”The gatherings often have a party atmosphere, with many people wearing green, a color associated with the Duterte family. There are large cardboard cutouts of the former president, and supporters use them to take selfies.“It’s not a normal protest. It’s picnic-style,” said Richelle Solde, 43, a casino worker in the Netherlands.VideoRichelle Solde, wearing a beret, gathered with supporters for a meal outside the detention center on Saturday.CreditCredit...Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York TimesLast year, when Mr. Duterte turned 80, thousands of his supporters gathered in a park near the prison. For his 81st birthday next month, a large number of supporters are planning another celebration. Filipinos in Paris, London and Vienna have pooled money to charter buses to The Hague.It is unclear if Mr. Duterte, who has said he does not recognize the I.C.C.’s jurisdiction, will attend the hearings this week. Legal experts have said the case could take years to reach a conclusion.Ms. Solde said she had urged other Filipinos to let the process play out and continue to support Mr. Duterte. “Even if he’s in detention, we want to show him that he will not be left behind,” she said.Francesca Regalado is a Times reporter covering breaking news.SKIP