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Families of victims of extrajudicial killings during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte air out a sigh of relief while watching a live feed of the appeals chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Atencio-Libunao Hall in the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City as the court rejects the appeal of Duterte to be released and to dismiss his case over jurisdiction on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
The STAR / Miguel de Guzman
MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court has authorized 539 victims of former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs to participate in proceedings in his war crimes case.
In a Q&A released by the ICC, the court said the participants are family members of those killed in the anti-drug campaign.
The ICC also said judges appointed Filipino lawyers Joel Butuyan and Gilbert Andres, along with Paolina Massidda of the court's Office of Public Counsel for Victims, to "act as a single team of common legal representatives for the authorized victims."
On Wednesday, April 23, the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber confirmed the charges against Duterte. The chamber confirmed three charges linked to killings during Duterte's time as Davao City mayor and later as president.
The ICC also identified five victims in the case, including 17-year-old Kian delos Santos.
Duterte is expected to appear at trial, as Article 63 of the Rome Statute requires the accused to be present.
In a statement, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor welcomed the confirmation of charges.
"The confirmation of these charges represents a significant milestone in the Office's efforts to advance accountability for victims of alleged extrajudicial killings and other abuses," the prosecution office said.
"It validates the Prosecution's work in establishing substantial grounds to believe that Mr Duterte bears responsibility for the crimes charged," it added.
The prosecutors also vowed to pursue justice for victims and "ensure that accountability is achieved without delay."
On Tuesday, April 22, the ICC Appeals Chamber affirmed the court's jurisdiction over the case after Duterte's camp challenged it, citing the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019.
Amnesty: 'Historic moment'
Human rights group Amnesty in the Philippines hailed the confirmation of charges as the path to justice victims have long awaited.
"Families of victims and survivors of the 'war on drugs' have waited far too long for justice," said Ritz Lee Santos III, the group's director.
He described the court's move as "a historic moment for victims and international justice," adding that it sends a signal that those accused of "widespread and systematic murder as a crime against humanity" could face trial.
Santos said the case reflects both the scale of killings under the anti-drug campaign and what Amnesty sees as the failure of domestic institutions to hold perpetrators accountable.
"The ICC is acting because the authorities would not," he said, adding that those responsible for unlawful killings had "operated with impunity" for years. — with report from Rosette Adel
