Judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague started hearings Monday on charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The ICC charges against Duterte cover crimes against humanity: murder, torture, and rape. These stem from a drug war that killed thousands between late 2011 and early 2019. It's a big moment. Duterte faces these in court for the first time. The hearings run four days, through Friday.
Key Takeaways
- Duterte got arrested in March 2025 and handed over to the ICC on March 12 that year.
- Prosecutors say he bears responsibility for 49 murder incidents and attempted murders on 78 victims, including kids.
- Charges include two counts of murder as crimes against humanity, plus one for murder and attempted murder of 45 victims.
- Confirmation hearing opened February 23, 2026, in Pre-Trial Chamber I.
Background
Rodrigo Duterte led the Philippines as president from 2016 to 2022. Before that, he served as mayor of Davao City for years. His time in office came with a hard push against drugs. Police got orders to go after dealers and users. Killings followed fast. Reports put the death toll over 6,000 from police alone. Others say vigilantes added thousands more. Bodies turned up in streets, alleys, slums. Families waited for justice that didn't come.
Duterte spoke openly about it. He called for blood. Said push drug suspects against walls. Shoot them if they fought back. His words set the tone. Police units ramped up night raids. Lists of targets circulated. Some names came from Duterte himself. He named high-value suspects on TV. Days later, many ended up dead.
The drug war hit poor areas hardest. Barangay clearance operations cleared neighborhoods. They targeted anyone linked to drugs. Kids got caught in it too. Three children among the 45 victims in one charge count. Duterte's style started in Davao. There, a death squad called DDS operated under his watch as mayor. It grew national when he took the presidency.
Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019. Duterte called the court biased. Said it meddled in his fight against crime. But the ICC kept probing. It said crimes started before withdrawal. Jurisdiction held. Investigations dragged on. Arrest warrant came secret in March 2025. Went public days later. Philippine authorities grabbed him. Sent him to The Hague.
His first appearance happened via video link March 14, 2025. He looked calm. Didn't enter pleas yet. Now, a year later, charges get tested. Pre-Trial Chamber I handles it. Judges: Iulia Motoc presides. Reine Alapini-Gansou and Socorro Flores Liera sit with her. Prosecutor Karim Khan leads the case. Defense has Nicholas Kaufman as lead counsel.
And the hearings? They draw eyes worldwide. Live streams pull thousands. Filipinos watch split. Some cheer justice. Others see a hero on trial. Duterte's backers rally outside. They wave signs. Chant his name. But victims' families sit quiet. They want answers.
Key Details
The confirmation hearing kicked off at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom I. Prosecutors laid out their case first. They charge Duterte as indirect co-perpetrator. Say he designed the whole thing. From Davao days to national scale.
The Charges
Two counts hit murder as crimes against humanity. First covers November 2011 to March 2019. Wide time frame. Second narrows to 2013-June 2016, then July 2016-September 2018. Third count: murder and attempted murder of 45 people. That's 43 killed, two survived. Victims labeled criminals. Three were children in barangay ops across Philippines.
Prosecutors list his moves. He built police kill squads. Gave orders to neutralize targets. Supplied guns, ammo, trucks. Picked key officers for the jobs. Offered cash rewards. Promotions too. Made sure killers faced no heat. Covered tracks when noise grew.
"Mr. Duterte made essential contributions to the crimes… by designing and disseminating orders to neutralize alleged criminals." – ICC Prosecutor statement during hearing
They say he ran it tight. Knew every step. Pulled strings from top. Even named targets publicly. Some died soon after. Defense fights back hard. They say no proof ties him direct. Claim police acted alone. Drug war saved lives, they argue. Cut crime rates. But judges decide if charges stick.
Hearings run four days. September 23 to 26? No, that's old schedule. Now it's February 23-26, 2026. Prosecution presents evidence. Witnesses maybe. Documents pile high. Defense cross-examines. Victims' reps speak too. Over 78 victims named in 49 incidents. Part of bigger attack. Widespread. Systematic.
Duterte sits in custody. No bail yet. He's 81 now. Health issues mentioned. But court pushes on. Earlier, defense tried objections. Chamber shot them down February 20. Cleared path for today.
This links to global fights against leaders. Like El Mencho's fall in Mexico. Drug wars there echoed some patterns. Leaders face heat.
What This Means
If charges confirm, Duterte goes to trial. Full one. Could take years. Conviction means life in prison. No death penalty at ICC. Philippines watches close. Current leaders stayed quiet. But politics shift. Duterte's daughter Sara holds vice presidency. Family power lingers.
Drug war scars run deep. Over 30,000 dead by some counts. Families broke. Neighborhoods wrecked. ICC win sets example. Leaders can't order kills unchecked. Even for drugs. But pushback grows. Some nations reject ICC. Call it white man's court. Philippines might resist handover again.
Victims get voice. Hundreds represented. They seek truth. Compensation maybe. But healing? Tough. Duterte's fans say he cleaned streets. Crime dropped, stats show. Murders too, in parts. Tension boils.
World eyes Asia. Other probes simmer. Myanmar. China edges. ICC tests reach. Success here bolsters it. Failure? Questions mount. And Duterte? He jokes still. Calls it circus. But chains hold now.
Broader drug fight changes. UN pushes reform. Less kill-first. More treatment. Philippines pivots slow. New ops quieter. But old wounds reopen here.
This ties to Venezuelan prisoners seeking amnesty. Politics and justice mix everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if charges confirm?
Judges decide by end of hearings or soon after. If yes, case moves to trial phase. Duterte stays detained. Full trial dates set later.
Can Philippines block this?
Country withdrew from ICC in 2019. But crimes pre-date that. Court claims jurisdiction. Manila arrested him last year. Complied once.
How many died in the drug war?
Official police tally: over 6,000. Human rights groups say 12,000 to 30,000 total. Includes vigilante kills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if the charges are confirmed?
The case advances to full trial. Duterte would remain in custody while trial dates are set.
Does the Philippines recognize ICC jurisdiction?
Philippines withdrew in 2019, but ICC claims authority over pre-withdrawal crimes. Authorities complied with arrest.
What is the death toll from Duterte’s drug war?
Police report over 6,000 deaths. Groups estimate 12,000-30,000 including vigilante killings.
