The International Criminal Court (ICC) has begun hearings to determine whether charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte should be confirmed and proceed to a full trial, court and family sources said on Monday. The session, held before ICC Pre‑Trial Chamber I in The Hague, marks a key procedural step in the first case against a former Philippine head of state at the tribunal.
Duterte, 80, faces three counts of crimes against humanity tied to alleged extrajudicial killings during his controversial “war on drugs”, a campaign launched in 2016 that human rights groups say resulted in thousands of deaths. Evidence presented by prosecutors relates to killings that occurred both when he served as mayor of Davao City and later as president.
The confirmation hearing, which runs through 27 February, is not a trial on guilt or innocence but a review to assess whether there are substantial grounds to believe the alleged crimes were committed and to warrant a full trial. Judges have up to 60 days after the hearing to issue a written decision on whether the charges will be confirmed.
Duterte will not attend the hearing in person after the ICC granted his request to waive his right to be present, despite prosecution objections. The former president has dismissed the court’s authority, arguing the Philippines’ 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute stripped the tribunal of jurisdiction, a position the ICC has repeatedly rejected.
Duterte was arrested in March 2025 in Manila and transferred to the ICC’s detention unit at Scheveningen Prison in the Netherlands. He has denied the charges, calling them an “outrageous lie,” and maintains that his policies were lawful efforts to combat crime. Supporters in the Philippines continue to back his legacy, while families of alleged drug war victims view the proceedings as a long‑awaited chance for accountability.
Amid the hearings, the ICC has also barred in‑person family visits for Duterte during the proceedings, according to his family, though telephone communication remains available. A team of Filipino lawyers is attending the hearing on his behalf.
The confirmation of charges represents a pivotal moment in international justice efforts tied to Duterte’s deadly anti‑drug drive, which officials say killed at least 6,000 people and rights groups estimate may have claimed as many as 30,000 lives. If the ICC judges confirm one or more charges, the case will move to the next phase, a trial that could take years to resolve.