MANILA โ Once hailed by supporters as a tough-talking populist who โmade the streets safe again,โ former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte now faces a far different reckoning โ before the worldโs highest criminal court.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed that it will proceed with charges of crimes against humanity against Duterte, marking a historic moment in the Philippinesโ modern political history and a rare instance of a former Asian leader standing before an international tribunal.
In an October 24 ruling, the ICCโs Pre-Trial Chamber I affirmed its jurisdiction over the case, rejecting the defenseโs argument that the Philippinesโ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019 shielded Duterte from prosecution. The court said its mandate covers crimes allegedly committed while the country was still a party to the treaty โ from November 2011 to March 2019 โ a period spanning Duterteโs time as both Davao City mayor and president.
The ruling clears a major procedural hurdle for the ICC, which has been investigating thousands of killings tied to Duterteโs brutal anti-drug campaign. Human rights groups estimate that between 12,000 and 30,000 people may have been killed in police operations and vigilante-style executions during the six-year crackdown.
Duterte, who surrendered to the court in March, remains in ICC custody after judges denied his request for interim release, citing the risk of flight and possible interference with witnesses. His confirmation of charges hearing โ a key step before a full trial โ is set for September 23, 2025.
A Leader Dividing a Nation
In the Philippines, Duterteโs fate has split public opinion. His supporters see the ICC case as a political witch hunt and a violation of national sovereignty. His critics, meanwhile, view it as long-overdue justice for the victims of a drug war that left behind orphans, widows, and shattered communities.
โHe promised peace and order, but what we got was fear and blood on the streets,โ said one human rights advocate from Davao City, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The former president has remained defiant. Even from detention, Duterte continues to insist that his campaign targeted only โcriminals and drug lords,โ dismissing the ICCโs jurisdiction as โforeign meddling in Philippine affairs.โ
The ICCโs Stand
The ICCโs move signals a bold assertion of its authority in Asia, a region where many countries have resisted international oversight. In its ruling, the court said that a stateโs withdrawal does not erase accountability for crimes committed while it was still a member.
Legal experts say the decision could set a precedent for future cases involving leaders accused of mass atrocities. โThis is not just about Duterte,โ one international law professor said. โItโs about the principle that no one โ not even a president โ is beyond the reach of justice.โ
A Long Road to Accountability
For families of victims, the ICCโs decision rekindles hope after years of impunity. Many still recall the fear that gripped their neighborhoods during the height of Duterteโs drug war, when police raids were nightly occurrences and morgues overflowed.
โThis is a chance to tell the world what really happened,โ said a mother whose teenage son was killed in an anti-drug operation in 2017. โWeโve been waiting for justice for so long.โ
Still, the path ahead is long. The confirmation hearing next year will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to bring Duterte to trial โ a process that could take several years more.
A Global Test for Justice
As the Philippines grapples with its post-Duterte era, the ICC case casts a long shadow over the countryโs political and moral landscape. It raises profound questions about sovereignty, accountability, and the limits of power.
Whether the proceedings end in conviction or acquittal, the case of Rodrigo Duterte stands as a defining test for both the Philippines and the international justice system โ a reminder that even those who once commanded nations can be called to answer before the law.
โ By Antonio Manaytay, Daily Sun Chronicle Feature
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