ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I confirms all 3 charges vs Rodrigo Duterte

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
April 23, 2026

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands — The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I has confirmed all three charges filed against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte for his crimes against humanity case.

In its ruling dated Thursday, April 23, 2026, the court found Duterte to be criminally responsible for three counts of crimes against humanity that spanned his mayoral and presidential tenures.

The indicated descriptions of the three counts are as follows: Murder as a crime against humanity in Davao City during the Mayoral period; Murder as a crime against humanity of ‘High-Value Targets’ in locations across the Philippines during the Presidential period; and Murder and attempted murder as crimes against humanity in barangay clearance operations in locations across the Philippines during the Presidential period.

The confirmation of charges signals Duterte’s transition from being a “suspect” to an “accused,” with his case thereby proceeding to a full-blown trial before the international tribunal.

The decision was released just a day after the ICC Appeals Chamber rejected the defense counsel’s appeal challenging the court’s jurisdiction over Duterte, consequently, upholding the pre-trial chamber’s previous decision on the existence of ICC jurisdiction.