ICC Prosecutors Begin Presenting Evidence Against Rodrigo Duterte Over Drug War Killings

By Emmanuel Bobby

Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) are set to begin presenting evidence Monday to support charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, outlining his alleged role in dozens of killings linked to his controversial war on drugs.

Duterte is facing three counts of crimes against humanity for violent anti-drug campaigns he oversaw, first as mayor of Davao City and later as president of the Philippines. Human rights organizations and families of victims welcomed his arrest in March, calling it a long-awaited step toward accountability.

Relatives of victims shared emotional testimonies ahead of the hearing. Llore Pasco said her two sons disappeared after leaving for work in May 2017, and their bodies were later found riddled with bullets. She described the proceedings as a moment families had waited for for years.

The hearing itself is not a trial but a preliminary stage in which prosecutors outline their case. Judges will then have 60 days to decide whether the charges should be confirmed and proceed to trial.

Duterte will not attend the hearing in The Hague. He waived his right to appear, saying in a letter that he is “old, tired, and frail” and did not want to attend proceedings he would not remember. He has dismissed the accusations as an “outrageous lie.” Judges recently ruled that he is medically fit to stand trial after earlier concerns about his health delayed proceedings.

Supporters of Duterte have criticized the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for arresting and surrendering the former leader to the ICC, arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, has also been outspoken against the case and recently announced plans to run for president in 2028. Victims’ families fear that another Duterte administration could revive the same violent policies.

The ICC first opened a preliminary investigation into the drug war in 2018. Shortly afterward, Duterte announced the Philippines’ withdrawal from the court, a move critics said was intended to avoid accountability. Judges later ruled that the withdrawal does not erase the court’s authority over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member. An appeal of that ruling is still pending.

Estimates of the death toll during Duterte’s presidency vary widely, ranging from more than 6,000 deaths reported by Philippine police to as many as 30,000 claimed by human rights groups.