ICC Begins Pretrial Hearings for Ex-Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

Author: Vera Rousseff

February 24, 2026

HRRC strongly condemns the extrajudicial killings carried out as part of the “war on drugs” campaign led by Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines. Although drug-related killings have reduced since Duterte left office, they are still being reported, and Filipinos affected by Duterte’s campaign are still calling for the ex-president to be held accountable for his crimes. We call on the government of the Philippines to respect the basic rights of its citizens in its efforts to reduce drug-related crime.

Protesters gather outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday for the start of the pretrial hearing against Rodrigo Duterte. [Image credit: Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP/Getty Images]

On Monday, February 23, the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened a confirmation of charges hearing for Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, who is suspected of having committed crimes against humanity during his “war on drugs” campaign. The former leader is facing three charges of crimes against humanity, murder, and attempted murder, committed between 2011 and 2019.

The confirmation of charges hearing is meant to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to conduct a formal trial against Duterte, who allegedly oversaw thousands of killings during his brutal crackdown on drug-related crime in the Philippines. Duterte and other senior officials used a network of law enforcement personnel and other armed individuals to conduct extrajudicial killings of up to 30,000 civilians, predominantly in low-income urban areas. During the hearing, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang stated, “This hearing marks an important day for the victims of mass crimes and atrocities perpetrated in the Philippines, and for the people of the Philippines.”

During his presidency, which lasted from 2016 to 2022, Duterte expanded the anti-drug crackdowns that he had first introduced during his time as mayor of Davao City, located on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. In 1988, the year he became mayor, Duterte created the Davao Death Squad (DDS), an armed group charged with killing anyone suspected of involvement in drug-related criminal activity. In addition to targeting alleged drug dealers, the death squad also killed petty criminals, street children as young as 14, and occasionally innocent bystanders. The DDS would go on to serve as a blueprint for Duterte’s violent “war on drugs” during his presidency years later. 

In March of 2025, Duterte was arrested in Manila by the Philippine National Police under an ICC warrant, and has since been held at the ICC’s detention unit in The Hague, Netherlands. The ex-president refused to appear in the courtroom on Monday and has denied the charges against him, saying that he is “proud” of his legacy. The hearing will take place over four days, after which the judges will have 60 days to decide whether the court will proceed with a formal trial.

Despite the high human cost of his “war on drugs,” Duterte remained hugely popular during his presidency and continues to enjoy public support. On Monday, a group of his supporters gathered in The Hague to back their former leader and denounce the hearing. At the same time, critics of Duterte held a protest calling for the ex-president to be held accountable for his crimes.

According to Amnesty International, drug-related killings continue to be reported in the Philippines, although they have reduced under the administration of current president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.. Additional reforms and advocacy are needed to limit drug-related crime while protecting citizens from extrajudicial killings and other forms of violence.

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Glossary

• Alleged/Allegedly: said to be true but not yet proven.

• Amnesty International: a global human rights organization that researches and reports on human rights abuses around the world. It also advocates for justice and accountability.

• Confirmation of Charges Hearing: a legal hearing used to decide whether there is enough evidence for a case to move forward to a full trial.

• Crackdown: a strong and often aggressive effort by a government or authority to stop certain activities, usually involving strict laws, increased police action, or force.

• Crimes Against Humanity: very serious crimes, such as murder or torture, committed against civilians as part of a widespread or organized attack.

• Detention Unit: a secure facility where people are held while waiting for trial or other court decisions.

• Extrajudicial Killings: killings carried out by the government or its agents without a legal trial or court decision.

• International Criminal Court (ICC): an international court that investigates and tries individuals accused of serious crimes like genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

• Low-Income Urban Areas: parts of cities where many people live with limited financial resources.

• Pretrial Hearing: a court session that takes place before a trial to handle legal issues and review evidence.

• The Hague: a city in the Netherlands where the International Criminal Court is located.

• War on Drugs: a government campaign aimed at stopping illegal drug use and drug trafficking, often through law enforcement actions.

• Warrant: a legal document authorizing law enforcement to make an arrest.