Ex-Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to Face ICC Trial on Crimes Against Humanity Charges

Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday confirmed crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte , clearing the way for a landmark trial over the deadly anti-drug crackdown carried out during his time in power.

A three-judge panel of the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber unanimously ruled that there are “substantial grounds” to believe Duterte was responsible for murder as a crime against humanity , committing the 81-year-old former leader to trial before an ICC Trial Chamber.

The charges relate to three counts of murder linked to 49 incidents involving 78 victims , including 76 killings and two attempted murders connected to the Philippines’ controversial “war on drugs.” Prosecutors say the violence was part of a coordinated plan targeting suspected drug dealers and users , carried out by police and alleged vigilante groups.

The alleged crimes span November 2011 to March 2019 , covering Duterte’s time as mayor of Davao City and later as president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022 . Prosecutors argue he played a central role in encouraging and enabling extrajudicial killings , while rights groups say the broader campaign led to thousands of deaths nationwide , with some estimates reaching tens of thousands.

Duterte was arrested in Manila on March 11, 2025 , under an ICC warrant and transferred to The Hague, where he has remained in custody since. He first appeared before the court shortly after his arrival and has since challenged the ICC’s authority over the case.

Despite the Philippines withdrawing from the ICC in 2019, appeals judges ruled the court retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before the withdrawal took effect .

Duterte has denied the allegations , with his lawyers arguing that his anti-drug rhetoric was meant to deter crime rather than order killings. Families of victims and human rights groups, however, welcomed the ruling as a major step toward accountability and justice .

The ICC will now assign a trial chamber and set a timetable for proceedings, though in previous cases it has taken months or even a year for trials to begin.