ICC judges reject bid to release Philippines’ Duterte

Appellate judges ruled that the International Criminal Court has jurisdiction over former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and rejected a bid to dismiss the case over his alleged role in the killing of thousands of people.

Families of the victims who watched the hearing from the Philippines screamed with joy when the court verdict was read on Wednesday.

Duterte, who has been detained at the ICC in The Hague since his arrest in March 2025, has not appeared in court.

The Philippines formally withdrew its ICC membership in 2018, and Duterte’s defense argued that this meant the court did not have jurisdiction over the case.

But appellate judges confirmed the lower court’s ruling that the case could proceed and rejected defense requests for the 81-year-old former president to be released immediately.

They ruled that the fact that a preliminary investigation, a precursor to a formal investigation, had begun before the Philippines withdrew its membership was sufficient to trigger continued jurisdiction over the alleged crimes.

Prosecutors say Duterte formed, financed and armed hit squads to target and kill suspected narcotics dealers and users during his time in power between 2016 and 2022.

Duterte has long insisted he only instructed police to kill in self-defense and has always defended repression.

When the verdict was announced, there was applause among the families of the victims who gathered at a Philippine university to watch the trial.

Some chanted, “Hold Duterte accountable.”

“No one is above the law, not even Duterte,” said Nanette Castillo, whose son was killed during the brutal campaign.