The Hague, Manila, Paris, 23 April 2026. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber has confirmed the charges of murder and attempted murder as crimes against humanity against Rodrigo Duterte, finding substantial grounds to believe that he is criminally responsible for killings carried out between November 2011 and March 2019, during his time as Mayor of Davao City first, and President of the Philippines later. The case will now proceed to trial. While Duterte exercised his right not to appear in person at the confirmation of charges hearing, his presence at trial is mandatory under the Rome Statute.
For victims and their families, this decision marks a long-awaited breakthrough. It opens the way for a broader victim participation in the proceedings and the possibility of reparations if Duterte is convicted. In addition to the 539 victims authorised to participate in the confirmation of charges hearing held in February 2026, additional victims may now apply to be recognised before the Court.
“The confirmation of charges is a crucial step towards justice for thousands of victims who have waited years to be heard. It affirms that their suffering is not invisible and that accountability is possible, even at the highest levels of power,” said FIDH President Alexis Deswaef.
For nearly a decade, victims in the Philippines have faced profound barriers to justice. Domestic mechanisms have failed to carry out effective investigations or prosecutions, leaving survivors without remedies and families without answers. The ICC proceedings now offer a vital avenue for independent and impartial justice.
The decision comes against a backdrop of sustained disinformation and a campaign of intimidation in the Philippines. Victims, their lawyers, human rights defenders, and journalists have been subjected to threats and harassment, including sexual harassment, undermining their ability to safely engage with the justice process.
“The confirmation of charges sends a strong signal that disinformation and intimidation cannot silence victims. It is essential that those who wish to participate in the proceedings can do so safely and without fear,” said PAHRA Chairperson Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan.
Despite this progress, the scope of the case remains limited to the charges of murder and attempted murder, and only a portion of victims will be able to participate in the proceedings and potentially benefit from reparations. Many victims have reported they suffered other serious harms, including enforced disappearance, torture, and sexual violence, which are not covered by the confirmed charges.
In this context, FIDH and PAHRA stress the need for continued investigation into the full range of crimes allegedly committed by senior figures in the Duterte administration, including by the eight co-perpetrators already named in the Document Containing the Charges. They further call on the Philippine authorities to pursue meaningful domestic accountability for other perpetrators, so that the broader pattern of abuses is addressed and more victims can access justice and reparations. This decision should serve as a foundation for broader accountability for all crimes committed in the so-called war on drugs.
The decision reaffirms the Pre-Trial Chamber’s decision confirming the ICC’s jurisdiction over crimes committed in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 notwithstanding the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute, which took effect on 17 March 2019. Withdrawal does not absolve responsibility for crimes committed while the Court had jurisdiction.
FIDH and PAHRA call on the Philippine authorities to ensure full cooperation with the ICC as the case proceeds to trial, by ensuring access for investigators and preserving and sharing evidence, and in particular by facilitating safe and meaningful victim participation and strengthening protections for victims and witnesses. They also call on the authorities to execute any outstanding arrest warrants and ensure the prompt surrender of future suspects. They further encourage concrete steps towards rejoining the ICC as a demonstration of renewed commitment to the rule of law and justice for victims.