ICC Confirms Crimes Against Humanity Charges Against Rodrigo Duterte Over Deadly Drug War

A landmark ruling at the International Criminal Court has pushed former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte closer to trial, with judges confirming charges of crimes against humanity tied to his controversial anti-drug campaign.

A three-judge panel concluded there are “substantial grounds” to believe Duterte oversaw a campaign of killings spanning his time as mayor of Davao and later as president between 2016 and 2022. The decision marks a major step in one of the most closely watched international justice cases in recent years.

Judges said evidence presented by prosecutors suggests Duterte “developed, disseminated and implemented” a policy aimed at “neutralizing” suspected criminals. Investigators allege that police officers and hired operatives carried out dozens of killings, sometimes incentivised by payments or fear of becoming targets themselves.

The scale of the violence remains disputed. Official police figures place the death toll at over 6,000, while human rights organisations estimate it could be as high as 30,000. Prosecutors described the killings as systematic, with deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang telling the court that, for some perpetrators, violence became “a perverse form of competition.”

Duterte, now 81, denies all allegations. His lead counsel, Nick Kaufman, criticised the ruling, arguing it relies heavily on testimony from “self-confessed murderers” acting as cooperating witnesses. A trial date has yet to be fixed.

The former leader has not attended court proceedings, having waived his right to appear. Judges previously ruled he is medically fit to stand trial after briefly delaying hearings due to health concerns.

For many families in the Philippines, the ruling has stirred cautious hope. Relatives of victims say the court’s decision offers a rare chance for justice after years of alleged abuses. Randy delos Santos, whose nephew was killed in 2017, said the process could finally give a voice to victims whose stories were overlooked.

Rights groups have also welcomed the development. Human Rights Watch described the case as a powerful signal that even powerful leaders can be held accountable under international law.

The case has faced legal hurdles. Duterte’s team had argued the ICC lacked jurisdiction after the Philippines withdrew from the court, but judges rejected that claim. Meanwhile, chief prosecutor Karim Khan was removed from the case over concerns about potential bias linked to his previous work with victims.