President on trial for crimes against humanity
The International Criminal Court is currently holding a hearing to decide if former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte should face trial for crimes against humanity linked to his controversial “war on drugs.”
This campaign, which Duterte initiated as a city mayor and continued throughout his six-year presidency, has been marked by the extrajudicial killings of tens of thousands of alleged drug dealers, users, and others, according to human rights organizations. ICC prosecutors claim he was involved in at least 76 murders and have charged him with three counts of crimes against humanity.
At 80 years old, Duterte faced widespread international criticism for his actions, yet he remained unbothered, even stating at one point that he would be “happy to slaughter” millions of “drug addicts” whom he accused of ruining the country.
“Duterte’s so-called war on drugs led to the deaths of thousands of civilians, including many innocent children,” prosecutor Mame Niang told the judges on Monday, urging that Duterte be held accountable. He emphasized that these proceedings serve as a “reminder that those in power are not above the law.”
Duterte chose to waive his right to be present in the courtroom, asserting that he does not recognize the ICC’s authority. His lawyer stated that he continues to maintain his innocence.
The hearing is set to take place over four days, after which the ICC judges will need to determine if there’s enough evidence to move forward with a full trial.
Duterte became the president of the Philippines in 2016, promising to wipe out street crime by taking a hard stance on illegal drugs. He had already earned a reputation for being tough on crime during his time as mayor of Davao, a large city in the south, and he argued that maintaining peace and order was essential for attracting investments.
Despite the controversies surrounding his legacy, his presidential campaign and strongman persona resonated deeply in a country grappling with severe drug problems. He often positioned himself as a political outsider, vowing to advocate for the interests of Filipinos in the provinces who felt overlooked by the elite in Manila.
Duterte is also infamous for his outrageous comments. He has made sexist remarks, once cursed at the late Pope Francis and former US President Barack Obama, and even likened himself to Hitler.
The chilling words, “Hitler massacred three million Jews… There are three million drug addicts. I’d be happy to slaughter them,” were spoken by him without a hint of remorse.
Over the years, he has stood firm in his stance on the drug crackdown, even stating in a video while being taken to The Hague, “What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?”
Despite being incarcerated in The Hague, he still enjoys significant popularity, particularly in Davao, where he won the 2025 mayoral election by a huge margin.
His daughter, Sara, currently serves as vice-president, and his son, Sebastian, holds the position of vice-mayor of Davao, where he is also acting as mayor.
Shortly after his father’s hearing began on February 23, Sebastian Duterte expressed his disapproval.
“Let’s call this what it is – not justice, not accountability, but selective prosecution dressed up as moral superiority,” he posted on Facebook.
The older Duterte has made history as the first former Asian head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
On February 23, families of victims from the drug war gathered to protest before attending Duterte’s Confirmation of Charges hearing.
President on trial for crimes against humanity
