Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed on April 23, 2026, that the court retains jurisdiction over former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, advancing a landmark trial regarding his alleged role in thousands of deaths during his controversial anti-drug campaign. The decision upholds a lower court ruling and rejects demands by Duterte's legal team to terminate proceedings and release the 81-year-old former leader.
The case centers on accusations that Duterte orchestrated systematic extrajudicial killings between 2016 and 2022, with official records estimating over 6,000 fatalities. Human rights groups claim the actual death toll exceeds 30,000. ICC prosecutors argue the Philippine justice system failed to hold accountable those responsible for the violence.
Duterte's lawyers had challenged the court's authority, citing Manila's withdrawal from the ICC in 2019. However, judges ruled the court retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member. The decision clears the way for pre-trial proceedings to evaluate evidence against Duterte, who has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated this week that the government will not cooperate with ICC investigators, calling the case "a threat to national sovereignty." Meanwhile, families of drug war victims welcomed the ruling as a critical step toward accountability.
