Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Zen Hernandez

ABS-CBN News

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17769362455731776936242916.jpeg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A protester holds a life-size cartboard cutouts of former Philippines&#x27; president Rodrigo Duterte during a demonstration in his support outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on February 23, 2026. Simon Wohlfahrt, AFP/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (3rd UPDATE) </strong>— Former president Rodrigo Duterte will face trial before the International Criminal Court after judges confirmed crimes against humanity charges tied to his war on drugs.</p><p>The Hague-based tribunal said its ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I “unanimously confirmed all the charges” against Duterte and “committed him to trial”, based on arguments and evidence presented during 4-day hearings in February.</p><p>It added that pre-trial judges concluded that &quot;there are substantial grounds to believe that Mr. Duterte is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder&quot; between November 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019, covering Duterte’s time as Davao City mayor and later as president.</p><p>“These crimes were committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population,” it added.</p><p>The 81-year-old will be the first Asian former head of state to face trial at the ICC, which prosecutes individuals for the world&#x27;s worst crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.</p><p>“Next steps: Upon the transfer of the case to a Trial Chamber, the Trial Chamber will decide on the next steps. Trials at the ICC are fair and impartial, and the Defence will have sufficient time to prepare its case, while respecting the rights of victims,” the ICC said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/22/kaufman-icc-jurisdiction-decision-on-big-catch-duterte-was-expected-2151">Kaufman: ICC jurisdiction decision on ‘big catch’ Duterte was expected</a></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>DEFENSE: CREDIBILITY OF WITNESSES NOT ASSESSED</strong></div><p>In a statement, Duterte&#x27;s lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman argued that the credibility of the witnesses was &quot;never assessed at confirmation.&quot; </p><p>&quot;The Pre Trial Chamber found that the crucial word ‘neutralize’, used to define a so-called State or organizational policy, was understood by those involved in the operations to mean to ‘kill’. This is hardly surprising when the whole of the Prosecution’s case, as pasted into the concluding paragraphs of the Pre-Trial Chamber’s decision, is based on the uncorroborated statements of vicious self-confessed murderers acting as cooperating witnesses,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;At trial, the Defence will prove that the aforementioned &#x27;State policy&#x27; is a complete fiction. The Defense will also show that the evidence of very same criminal witnesses, so gleefully peddled by the former President’s many detractors, has zero weight,&quot; he added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>MALACAÑANG RESPECTS ICC DECISION</strong></div><p>Malacañang said it &quot;respects&quot; the ICC decision. </p><p>“Hustisya ang kailangan[g] makuha sa mga kasong ito,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a statement. </p><p>“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 said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>&#x27;VERY GOOD NEWS&#x27;</strong></div><p>Duterte Panagutin Campaign Network convenor Jojo Lacanilao described the development as “very good news,” noting that recent legal efforts opposing the ICC process appeared to be losing traction. </p><p>“Very good news kasi two days in a row, mukhang hindi effective ang Invictus, na tinatawag nila. So happy about this justice moves on, hinihintay namin ang pag tingkad ng araw ng hustisya na makakamit natin pagdating ng trial at maconvict na ang dating president,” Lacanilao said. </p><p>He expressed gratitude on behalf of the families of extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims, many of whom, he said, remained fearful but were beginning to find the courage to come forward. </p><p>“Kami ay natutuwa at nagpapasalamat para sa mga biktima ng EJK. Malaki pa ang takot nila pero ngayon kahit konti nagkakaroon nasila ng lakas na loob na harapin ang lahat ng ito. We are very happy with this development starting with kahapon sa jurisdiction issue ngayon nilabas agad ang confirmation of charges parang feeling ko tuloy tuloy na ito so maraming salamat sa mga sumusuporta po,” he said. </p><p>Lacanilao said efforts were ongoing to identify additional victims who could submit evidence to the court. </p><p>“Things are looking good hopefully magko-consolidate pa rin ang mga victims at tutulong pa rin kayo sa paglabas ng hustisya at makamit na nating lahat ito,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TRIAL APPEARANCE</strong></div><p>The announcement comes a day after the ICC threw out a challenge against its jurisdiction by Duterte&#x27;s defense team.</p><p>It is unclear whether Duterte will attend his trial.</p><p>His defense team says he is too weak mentally to follow proceedings and he did not appear at Wednesday’s reading of the decision. </p><p>The only time he has been seen since his arrest and transfer to The Hague was at an initial appearance via videolink in March 2025.</p><p>The Rome Statute, however, requires the presence of the accused during trial.</p><p>Under the Rome Statute, the Trial Chamber &quot;may remove the accused and shall make provision for him or her to observe the trial and instruct counsel from outside the courtroom, through the use of communications technology&quot; in case they disrupt the trial.That provision will be temporary and &quot;shall be taken only in exceptional circumstances after other reasonable alternatives have proved inadequate.&quot; </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/23/rome-statute-requires-duterte-s-presence-at-icc-trial-1757" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rome Statute requires Duterte&#x27;s presence at ICC trial</a></div><p>Duterte&#x27;s looming trial comes as the court faces the most difficult time in its 24-year history, with the United States sanctioning key judges and officials after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israel&#x27;s leader over the Gaza war.</p><p>— <strong>With reports from Harlene Delgado and Lyza Aquino, ABS-CBN News </strong></p><div><strong><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></strong></div><div> </div>

<p>The International Criminal Court has confirmed all charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte and committed him to trial.</p>

The International Criminal Court has confirmed all charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte and committed him to trial.

Duterte to face ICC trial after judges confirm charges

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Duterte to face ICC trial after judges confirm charges

Jamaine Punzalan,

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News,

Agence France-Presse

Published April 23, 2026 04:49 PM PHT

|

Updated May 02, 2026 09:58 AM PHT

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Duterte

ICC

Duterte ICC trial

war on drugs

Rodrigo Duterte

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