Duterte’s War on Drugs: A Primer for ICC Charges

Here’s a concise primer on Rodrigo Duterte’s War on Drugs and how it led to charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC):

🚨 Duterte’s War on Drugs: A Primer for ICC Charges

🇵🇭 Background

• In 2016, Rodrigo Duterte became President of the Philippines after campaigning on a hardline promise to “kill drug dealers.”

• He had previously employed similar tactics as Mayor of Davao City, earning the nickname “The Punisher.”

• Shortly after taking office, Duterte launched an aggressive nationwide anti-drug campaign, directing police and local officials to eliminate drug threats “by any means necessary.”

☠️ The Campaign in Numbers (2016–2019)

• Estimated deaths:

  • 6,000–8,000+ (official PNP figures)

  • 12,000–30,000+ (human rights groups' estimates)

• Majority of victims: Urban poor, often killed in alleged “nanlaban” (resisting arrest) incidents.

• Key institutions involved:

  • Philippine National Police (PNP)

  • Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)

  • Local officials and alleged vigilante groups

⚖️ What the ICC Is Investigating

The ICC’s investigation centers on:

• Crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute:

  • Murder

  • Torture

  • Other inhumane acts

• Pattern of abuse: Widespread, systematic attacks against civilians

• Timeframe: Nov 1, 2011 – Mar 16, 2019

  • Includes time when Duterte was Davao mayor and president

• Command responsibility: Duterte is accused of:

  • Ordering or encouraging killings

  • Failing to prevent or punish abuses

📉 Domestic & International Response

• Human rights groups (e.g., Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch) condemned the campaign.

• Philippine Commission on Human Rights faced political resistance.

• Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019—but the court retains jurisdiction for crimes committed before withdrawal.

• International criticism grew after reports of police falsifying reports and planting evidence.

🏛️ ICC Legal Milestones

• 2018: ICC opens preliminary examination

• 2021: Formal investigation approved

• 2025: Duterte arrested and extradited to The Hague

• September 2025: Confirmation of charges hearings scheduled

🧭 Why It Matters

• The ICC case tests the limits of international accountability for domestic crackdowns.

• It’s a landmark case involving a former head of state for a campaign largely defended as domestic policy.

• The outcome could shape future legal norms on human rights and state-sanctioned violence.