On Thursday, judges at the International Criminal Court confirmed charges of crimes against humanity against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, linked to his alleged role in orchestrating deadly anti-drug campaigns during his tenure.
A panel of three judges unanimously agreed there are “substantial grounds” to suspect that Duterte was involved in numerous killings, first during his time as mayor of Davao City and later as the nation’s president.
Duterte, who is 80, was apprehended in the Philippines last year and has refuted all allegations against him.
The judges, in their detailed 50-page ruling, concluded that evidence indicates Duterte “conceived, propagated, and executed” a plan to “neutralize” supposed criminals.
On October 28, 2024, former President Rodrigo Duterte appeared before the Senate in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, to address inquiries regarding his controversial war on drugs. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Prosecutors argue that police officers and hit squads committed numerous murders under Duterte’s directives, driven by financial incentives or fear of becoming targets themselves.
“For some, killing reached the level of a perverse form of competition,” deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang told the court in pretrial hearings in February.
A date for the start of the trial has not yet been set.
Duterte’s lead defense lawyer Nick Kaufman told judges during the February hearings that he “stands behind his legacy resolutely, and he maintains his innocence absolutely.”
Former President Rodrigo Duterte speaks inside Southorn Stadium during a thanksgiving gathering organized by Hong Kong-based Filipino workers on March 9, 2025. (AP)
Kaufman argued that the prosecution “cherry-picked” examples of Duterte’s “bombastic rhetoric,” and his client’s words were never intended to incite violence.
Estimates of the death toll during Duterte’s presidential term vary, from the more than 6,000 that the national police have reported to up to 30,000 claimed by human rights groups.
Duterte has not been present in the courtroom for any hearings, having waived his right to appear. Last month judges found he was fit to stand trial, after postponing an earlier hearing over concerns about his health.
Security officers patrol the airport in Manila, Philippines, after former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025. (Aaron Favila/AP)
ICC prosecutors said in 2018 that they would open a preliminary investigation into the violent drug crackdowns. In a move that human rights activists say was aimed at avoiding accountability, Duterte, who was president at the time, announced a month later that the Philippines would leave the court.
On Wednesday, appeals judges rejected a request from Duterte’s legal team to throw out the case on the grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction because of the Philippine withdrawal.
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