The Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court unanimously accepted the charges filed by the prosecutor against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. A dedicated Criminal Chamber is now set to rule on allegations of crimes against humanity in three separate cases.

According to Pre-Trial Chamber I, there are sufficient grounds to presume that Duterte is responsible for acts of murder and attempted murder. These alleged crimes are linked to a widespread and systemic attack against the civilian population of the Philippines, which took place between November 2011 and March 2019 during the government’s “War on Drugs” campaign.

Duterte was referred to the International Criminal Court on March 12, 2025. Following this referral, the case will now be directed to a Criminal Chamber, which will determine the necessary next steps.