Press Statement of the Philippine Coalition to the International Criminal Court on the ICC’s Confirmation of Charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte
We Hope the ICC will start trial of Rodrigo Duterte without delay this year.
The Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court (PCICC) highly welcomes the recent double win for victims of the drug war in two separate decisions at the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Appeals Chamber of the ICC, by a majority vote, affirmed jurisdiction over the case against Rodrigo Roa Duterte on August 22. Today, the Pre-Trial Chamber I concluded that there are substantial grounds to believe that former Philippine President Duterte is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder pursuant to Article 7 (1)(a) of the Rome Statute. These are very significant steps forward in the pursuit of truth and accountability for the alleged crimes against humanity committed in the context of the Philippines’ so-called “war on drugs.”
The ruling on jurisdiction sends a clear and powerful message: withdrawal from the Rome Statute does not place anyone beyond the reach of justice. Even when high-ranking officials attempt to evade accountability, the ICC remains a court of last resort for victims of grave international crimes. Impunity cannot be justified by political decisions to withdraw from international legal mechanisms.
The Pre Trial Chamber I’s unanimous confirmation of all the charges comprised of 3 counts of crimes against humanity brought by the ICC Prosecutor against Duterte opened the gates for the trial of Duterte before an ICC Trial Chamber.
For the families of victims, many of whom continue to live in fear and struggle against fading hope, these decisions affirm that avenues for justice remain open. They offer a path toward truth and justice in the face of years of disinformation and stigmatization that have normalized and justified unlawful killings. Narratives such as “nanlaban” and the misuse of the “presumption of regularity” have long served to obscure accountability and condition public acceptance of violence against suspected drug offenders. These narratives must be challenged and debunked. Killing is a crime, unless proven otherwise in a court of law.
We now look forward to the trial of Mr. Duterte for crimes against humanity, including murder and attempted murder, by a Trial Chamber that hopefully will start without further delay.
At the same time, accountability must not stop with one individual. We call for the prompt issuance of arrest warrants against the alleged co-perpetrators identified in the proceedings. Justice demands that all those who participated in the planning, ordering, and execution of these crimes be brought within the reach of the law. We further urge that additional charges, including those related to torture, illegal arrests, arbitrary detention, and sexual abuse, be fully investigated and pursued where warranted.
We also call on the Government of the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to fully cooperate with the ICC, particularly in the arrest and surrender of all individuals against whom warrants may be issued. Genuine commitment to justice requires concrete action, not merely statements.
These decisions are not the end, but very important milestones. The long struggle of victims and their families for justice continues, and we stand with them in ensuring that accountability is achieved and that such grave violations will never happen again.
Atty. Ray Paolo Santiago and Dr. Aurora Corazon A. Parong
Co-Chairpersons
Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court (PCICC)