Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have confirmed all charges of murder as crimes against humanity against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and committed him to trial, according to a statement from the court on April 23, 2026.
The judges found that there were substantial grounds to believe that Duterte bore criminal responsibility for the deaths of thousands of people during his administration's war on drugs, which began in 2016. The ICC investigation focuses on alleged extrajudicial killings carried out by police and vigilantes.
Duterte, who was president from 2016 to 2022, has previously denied allegations of ordering extrajudicial killings. His legal team has argued that the ICC lacks jurisdiction because the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019. However, the ICC maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a member.
The trial date has not yet been set. This is the first time a former Philippine leader has faced trial at the ICC.
