JUDGES at the International Criminal Court (ICC) located in The Hague have confirmed all three counts of murder as crimes against humanity against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and ordered that he stand trial, in a landmark ruling over his controversial anti-drug campaign.
Reuters cited the court saying there were “substantial grounds” to believe the 81-year-old former leader played a central role in the killings of 76 individuals and the attempted murder of two others, linked to what prosecutors describe as a state-backed “war on drugs” that claimed thousands of lives in the Philippines.
“The available evidentiary material shows the existence of a common plan between Duterte and his co-perpetrators to kill alleged criminals in the Philippines, including those perceived or alleged to be associated with drug use, sale or production, through violent crimes including murder,” the court said.
Prosecutors allege Duterte established, financed and armed so-called death squads to target suspected drug offenders during his presidency from 2016 to 2022, a campaign that has drawn widespread international condemnation and allegations of extrajudicial killings.
Duterte has consistently denied wrongdoing, insisting that he only instructed police to use lethal force in self-defence, and has defended the crackdown as necessary to restore public order.
On Wednesday, ICC appeals judges dismissed an attempt to halt proceedings, ruling that the court has jurisdiction over the case and allowing the trial process to proceed.
In previous ICC proceedings, it has typically taken up to a year between the confirmation of charges and the commencement of trial, meaning further pre-trial steps are expected before hearings begin. - April 23, 2026
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