The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will face trial for crimes against humanity, stemming from his deadly "war on drugs." The court's decision advances one of the most high-profile cases involving a former head of state, as prosecutors allege that Duterte's anti-drug campaign resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings.
Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, has repeatedly denied authorizing extrajudicial executions, though he has publicly encouraged police to kill drug suspects who resisted arrest. Human rights groups estimate that over 12,000 people were killed during the crackdown, many under suspicious circumstances.
The ICC's pre-trial chamber ruled that there were reasonable grounds to believe Duterte bore criminal responsibility for the murders, which constituted crimes against humanity. The trial date has not yet been set.