Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have charged former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte with three counts of murder as crimes against humanity, saying the cases represent only a fraction of the alleged killings during his tenure as Davao City mayor and later as president.
At the opening of the four-day confirmation of charges hearing in The Hague on February 23, prosecutor Mame Niang said the former leader must answer for the deaths linked to his anti-illegal drug campaign.
“Duterte’s so-called war on drugs resulted in the killings of thousands of civilians and many of these victims were children. Duterte must be held to account and this case should be confirmed for trial,” Niang said.
Defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman rejected the accusations, arguing that the charges were politically motivated.
“He maintains his innocence in full. Duterte’s rhetoric was meant to instill fear and a respect for the law. That was his intent and it was not criminal,” Kaufman said.
Duterte, who turns 81 on March 28, has been detained in The Hague since March 2025. He waived his right to appear at the pre-trial hearings but will be required to attend should the charges be confirmed.
The ICC clarified that the confirmation hearing does not determine guilt or innocence. Instead, judges will assess whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
Under ICC rules, a ruling must be issued within 60 days after the hearings conclude. If one or more charges are confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber for the next phase of proceedings.