THE International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to open a five-day hearing on Feb. 23 in The Hague to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to move forward with a trial related to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
The proceedings, scheduled until Feb. 27, will focus on confirming charges. A three-judge panel will assess whether there are “substantial grounds to believe” that crimes within the court’s jurisdiction may have been committed. The hearing is not a trial and will not determine guilt or innocence.
Duterte, through his lawyers Vic Rodriguez and Jimmy Bondoc, has formally stated that he will not participate in the proceedings, maintaining that he does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction.
In a statement dated Feb. 17 and posted on the “Alyansa ni Inday Sara” Facebook page, the former president questioned the legality of his transfer to The Hague and alleged it violated national sovereignty.
In the same statement, Duterte denied allegations that he oversaw extrajudicial killings during the anti-drug campaign, calling the accusations false and politically motivated.
Official police records show that around 6,200 individuals were killed in anti-drug operations from 2016 to 2022. However, international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) and several Philippine-based rights groups have cited higher estimates, saying the number of deaths linked to the campaign could reach up to 30,000, including cases under investigation.
Maria Elena Vignoli, senior international justice counsel at HRW, said the ICC process is an opportunity to examine evidence and address long-standing allegations.
Duterte said he has authorized his legal team to represent him and challenge the prosecution’s evidence, but will not follow the hearings remotely. He added that he has accepted the possibility of prolonged legal proceedings.
The ICC judges are expected to issue a written decision within 60 days after the hearings on whether the case will proceed to trial.
