Duterte Appears Before ICC on Drug War Charges; Majority of Filipinos Oppose Arrest — Pulse Asia

By Sherman Calotes | Philippine People's Press 

The Hague, Netherlands — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte made his first appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 14, 2025, as he faces charges of crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s brutal anti-narcotics campaign.

The 79-year-old Duterte, who served as the country’s chief executive from 2016 to 2022, became the first former Asian head of state to be prosecuted before the Hague-based tribunal. He attended the brief initial hearing via videolink, accompanied by his legal counsel, former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

The pre-trial chamber informed Duterte of the allegations against him, including the crime against humanity of murder, allegedly committed during his administration’s controversial “war on drugs.” Human rights organizations estimate that thousands of suspected drug users and peddlers were killed in the campaign.

The ICC has scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing for September 23, 2025, which will determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.

Duterte was arrested without incident in March at Ninoy Aquino International Airport and was subsequently flown to The Hague under a warrant issued by the ICC.

Public Opinion: Strong Opposition in Mindanao

Amid international attention, a recent Pulse Asia survey revealed that a majority of Filipinos oppose the ICC’s arrest of the former president.

Conducted from May 6 to 9, 2025, and based on face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adult respondents nationwide, the survey found that 58 percent disagreed with the ICC’s arrest of Duterte. Of this figure, 33 percent said they "strongly disagree." Meanwhile, 26 percent supported the arrest, with 10 percent “strongly agreeing” and 16 percent “somewhat agreeing.” The remaining 16 percent were undecided.

The opposition to Duterte’s arrest was overwhelming in Mindanao, where he previously served as Davao City mayor for over two decades a staggering 96 percent disagreed with the ICC’s action. The Visayas followed at 60 percent, while 42 percent of respondents from Balance Luzon shared the same sentiment.

Conversely, Metro Manila recorded the highest level of approval for the arrest at 43 percent, followed by Balance Luzon (35%), Visayas (24%), and Mindanao (1%).

A Polarizing Legacy

Duterte’s bloody drug war remains one of the most divisive legacies of his presidency. While some hailed it as a necessary crackdown on criminality, critics both domestic and international condemned it as a campaign marred by extrajudicial killings, targeting the poor and marginalized.

The Duterte camp has consistently denied that state-sanctioned killings occurred, arguing that the operations were conducted within the bounds of the law and that deaths only occurred when suspects violently resisted arrest.

Despite global scrutiny, the Pulse Asia poll results suggest that Duterte continues to enjoy substantial support from a significant portion of the Filipino public, especially in his home region of Mindanao.

Looking Ahead

Legal experts anticipate a lengthy legal battle ahead. Should the ICC pre-trial chamber confirm the charges in September, Duterte will face a full trial before international justices a process that could take years.

In the meantime, the proceedings at The Hague are being closely watched as a landmark test of international accountability for former heads of state accused of grave human rights violations.

Sources: International Criminal Court (ICC), Pulse Asia Research Inc., Philippine News Agency