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Advocates Philippines
ICC Confirms Charges Against Duterte, Sets Trial
Photo credit: ICC
The International Criminal Court has confirmed all charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte and committed the case to trial, moving one of the court’s most closely followed proceedings into its next stage.
In a decision dated April 23, Pre-Trial Chamber I said there are “substantial grounds to believe” Duterte is responsible for crimes against humanity, specifically murder and attempted murder under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.
The charges stem from alleged acts committed between November 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019, which the chamber said were carried out as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population” in the Philippines in the context of the government’s war on drugs.
The ruling comes after the confirmation of charges hearing held from February 23 to 27, 2026, where prosecutors, defense lawyers, and legal representatives of victims presented their arguments and submissions. Duterte did not attend the hearing after the chamber granted his request to waive his presence.
With the charges now confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber, which will determine the next steps and oversee the full trial proceedings. The ICC said the process will be conducted fairly and impartially, ensuring the rights of both the accused and participating victims are respected.
Background information from the court showed that an arrest warrant for Duterte was issued on March 7, 2025 under seal and later made public on March 11, 2025. He was surrendered to ICC custody on March 12, 2025 and made his initial appearance before the court on March 14, 2025.
The confirmation of charges means the case has passed a key legal threshold, allowing prosecutors to present their evidence in full during trial, while the defense is given time to prepare its response.
In a decision dated April 23, Pre-Trial Chamber I said there are “substantial grounds to believe” Duterte is responsible for crimes against humanity, specifically murder and attempted murder under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.
The charges stem from alleged acts committed between November 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019, which the chamber said were carried out as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population” in the Philippines in the context of the government’s war on drugs.
The ruling comes after the confirmation of charges hearing held from February 23 to 27, 2026, where prosecutors, defense lawyers, and legal representatives of victims presented their arguments and submissions. Duterte did not attend the hearing after the chamber granted his request to waive his presence.
With the charges now confirmed, the case will be transferred to a Trial Chamber, which will determine the next steps and oversee the full trial proceedings. The ICC said the process will be conducted fairly and impartially, ensuring the rights of both the accused and participating victims are respected.
Background information from the court showed that an arrest warrant for Duterte was issued on March 7, 2025 under seal and later made public on March 11, 2025. He was surrendered to ICC custody on March 12, 2025 and made his initial appearance before the court on March 14, 2025.
The confirmation of charges means the case has passed a key legal threshold, allowing prosecutors to present their evidence in full during trial, while the defense is given time to prepare its response.
Apr 23, 2026
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