International Criminal Court Hearing on Rodrigo Duterte
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is conducting a hearing to determine whether former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte should face trial for crimes against humanity linked to his violent "war on drugs." This campaign, initiated during his tenure as a city mayor and continued throughout his six-year presidency, allegedly involved extrajudicial killings of tens of thousands of suspected drug dealers, users, and others, according to human rights organizations. ICC prosecutors accuse Duterte of involvement in at least 76 murders and have charged him with three counts of crimes against humanity.
Duterte, aged 80, faced international criticism for the campaign but remained defiant, once stating he would be "happy to slaughter" millions of "drug addicts" whom he claimed were harming the country.
Duterte's so-called war on drugs resulted in the killings of thousands of civilians and many of these victims were children,
prosecutor Mame Niang said during Monday's hearing, urging the judges to hold Duterte accountable. He emphasized that the proceedings serve as
a reminder that those in power are not above the law.
Duterte waived his right to be present in court, asserting he does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction. His lawyer confirmed that he maintains his innocence.
The hearing is scheduled over four days, after which ICC judges will decide if sufficient evidence exists to proceed to a full trial.
Who is Rodrigo Duterte?
Rodrigo Duterte was elected president of the Philippines in 2016, campaigning on a promise to eradicate street crime by aggressively targeting illegal drugs. Prior to his presidency, he served as mayor of Davao, a large southern city, where he gained a reputation for a tough stance on crime, arguing that peace and order were essential for attracting investments.
Despite controversy surrounding his methods, Duterte's presidential campaign and authoritarian approach were highly popular in a country struggling with widespread drug problems. He often portrayed himself as a political outsider and pledged to represent Filipinos in the provinces who felt neglected by Manila's elite.
Duterte is also known for provocative rhetoric. He has made sexist remarks, insulted figures such as the late Pope Francis and former US president Barack Obama, and infamously compared himself to Adolf Hitler.
Hitler massacred three million Jews... There are three million drug addicts. I'd be happy to slaughter them,
he declared.
Throughout the years, Duterte has remained unapologetic about his drug crackdown. In a video recorded during his transfer to The Hague, he questioned,
What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?
Despite his detention, Duterte retains popularity, especially in Davao, where he won the 2025 mayoral election by a large margin. His daughter, Sara Duterte, currently serves as vice-president, while his son, Sebastian Duterte, is vice-mayor of Davao and acting mayor.
Rodrigo Duterte is the first former Asian head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
The Case Against Duterte
Duterte faces accusations of crimes against humanity, including murder and attempted murder, for actions between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019, the date when the Philippines withdrew from ICC jurisdiction.
This timeframe covers his period as Davao mayor and the first half of his presidency. He is alleged to have acted as an "indirect co-perpetrator," using others to carry out killings.
Prosecutors assert that Duterte employed police officers and hired hitmen to "neutralize" individuals labeled as criminals. This approach was part of his signature anti-drug initiative, Operation Double Barrel.
As president, Duterte openly encouraged police to shoot and kill suspected drug dealers and users. These killings, often involving victims shot in public spaces by unidentified assailants, provoked widespread outrage.
Human rights organizations report that the campaign primarily targeted low-level pushers among the urban poor, while failing to prosecute major drug lords. They also claim that many suspects were summarily executed.
The exact death toll remains uncertain, but some groups estimate that up to 30,000 people were killed during the campaign.
Duterte and his officials have denied these allegations, with police maintaining that all killings occurred in self-defense.
Duterte has refused to acknowledge ICC proceedings, arguing that the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC, during his presidency.
He announced last week that he would not attend the current hearing, describing himself as "old, tired and frail," and denouncing the charges as
an outrageous lie.
Events Leading to Duterte's Arrest
Duterte's arrest and extradition in March followed a dramatic series of events triggered by a political rift between his daughter, Sara Duterte, and his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The Marcos and Duterte families had formed a strong alliance during the 2022 election to consolidate their political bases but later clashed as their political interests diverged.
Previously, Marcos had refused to cooperate with the ICC investigation, firmly stating that the Philippines
will not cooperate in any way, shape, or formwith the Court.
However, as relations with the Duterte family soured, Marcos reversed his position. Supporters of Duterte allege that Marcos is exploiting the ICC case for political purposes.
Duterte's arrest shocked the nation. He was detained at Manila airport upon arrival from Hong Kong and was flown to The Hague within hours, where he remains in custody.
The entire extradition process, from detention in Manila to arrival in The Hague, was documented on social media by Duterte's daughter Kitty and by Duterte himself through his aide.
During the more than 24-hour transit, Duterte posted a series of videos on Facebook, providing detailed insights into his journey, including meals served aboard his chartered jet. These videos offered rare transparency into a typically secretive process.
Significance of the Duterte Case
In the Philippines, the case is intertwined with a broader power struggle between the Duterte and Marcos families.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Marcos, had his political trajectory disrupted by the 1986 revolution that ended his family's rule.
In the 1990s, Marcos Jr. served as provincial governor, congressman, and senator before winning the presidency in 2022 after forming an alliance with the Dutertes, with Sara Duterte as his vice-president.
The 2022 Duterte-Marcos alliance revived the Marcos political dynasty, but internal conflicts over power-sharing led to the alliance's rapid disintegration.
As tensions escalated, Marcos permitted authorities to arrest Duterte and facilitate his transfer to The Hague.
More recently, Sara Duterte announced her intention to run for president in 2028, an election in which Marcos is ineligible to run due to term limits restricting Philippine presidents to a single term.
For the ICC, the Duterte case tests the court's capacity to prosecute a former head of state for domestic policy decisions. The ICC serves as a court of last resort to hold powerful individuals accountable when national courts fail or refuse to act. However, the ICC lacks the authority to arrest individuals without cooperation from their home countries.
Timeline of the Duterte Case
The confirmation of charges hearing began on Monday and will continue over four days.
Following the hearing, the ICC has 60 days to issue a written decision on whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial.
Nearly a year elapsed between Duterte's arrest and the start of the pre-trial confirmation hearing.
Prior to Monday, the court considered petitions from Duterte's lawyers seeking to halt proceedings on health grounds. The court ruled that Duterte is fit to participate.
