Malacañang on Thursday expressed its respect for the International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision to confirm crimes against humanity charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte, officially elevated the case to a full trial.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that the government acknowledges the unanimous ruling as a significant step toward accountability.
“We respect the ruling of ICC that confirms all charges of crimes against humanity against the former President Duterte. Hustisya ang kailangan makuha sa mga kasong ito,” Castro said.
Grounds for Trial
The Pre-Trial Chamber found substantial grounds to believe Duterte is responsible for murder and attempted murder. The court classified these acts as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population on the territory of the Republic of the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the ‘war on drugs’ campaign.”
The ruling covers alleged atrocities committed during Duterte’s tenure as Mayor of Davao City and his subsequent term as President.
Path to Justice
The confirmation of charges transitions the proceedings into the trial phase. ICC prosecutors are now tasked with proving the allegations beyond reasonable doubt, while the defense maintains the right to challenge all presented evidence.
Castro emphasized that a transparent judicial process serves the interests of all involved parties.
“Parehong partido ang makikinabang rito. Hustisya para sa akusado kung walang sala o hustisya rin sa mga biktima kung naabuso naman ang kanilang karapatan,” she added.
Duterte has been held at the ICC detention facility in The Hague since March 12, 2025.