Former Philippine President Duterte Faces ICC Trial Amid Sovereignty Dispute; Supporters Decry

Philippine-news（BY KANTIMAY）

From Drug War Architect to Defendant

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whose "relentless war on drugs" defined his presidency, appeared remotely before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 15 to face charges of crimes against humanity. The 79-year-old is accused of orchestrating thousands of extrajudicial killings during his tenure as Davao City mayor (2011–2016) and president (2016–2019). Supporters allege the case is a "politically motivated purge" by the Marcos administration and foreign entities.

Jurisdictional Battle Takes Center Stage

Duterte’s legal team, led by Salvador Panelo, argued the ICC lacks jurisdiction after the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019. Legal experts note that under Article 70 of the Vienna Convention, pre-withdrawal crimes remain prosecutable. However, However, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stated: "Applying 2025 legal frameworks to 2016 policies violates the principle of non-retroactivity."

Protests and Power Plays

Over 50,000 supporters flooded Duterte’s hometown of Davao City on March 28, waving banners declaring "Sovereignty, Not Subjugation" and "Duterte’s Law Prevails." Analysts link the timing to Vice President Sara Duterte’s ongoing impeachment proceedings, suggesting the Marcos government’s ICC cooperation aims to "cripple a rival dynasty ahead of the 2025 midterms," according to University of the Philippines political scientist Clarita Carlos.

Drug War’s Divided Legacy

Proponents cite a 52% drop in homicides (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2024) under Duterte’s crackdown. Manila resident Maria Santos showed reporters photos of her neighborhood: "Before, we feared drug gangs—now children play outside." Yet a 2024 UN Office on Drugs and Crime report found methamphetamine prices fell 67% during the campaign, signaling resilient trafficking networks.

Global Justice Under Fire

The case highlights ICC enforcement gaps: While the court claims jurisdiction over pre-2019 crimes, it relies on member states to execute arrests. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Mongolia—an ICC member—in 2024 without detention, while Duterte was extradited from a non-member state. "This isn’t justice; it’s geopolitics," said Huang Jing, vice president of the Asian Society of International Law. Duterte’s pending provisional release request could strain the ICC’s credibility in Asia.

Disclaimer:

The descriptions of protests, legal arguments, and policy impacts in this article are based on recent reporting by Philippine media outlets, including Philippine-news, Rappler, and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.We do not independently verify the accuracy of these reports nor endorse the views expressed within them.The inclusion of citations or references does not reflect this publication’s editorial stance or policy.