Investigation

• August 2011 – The Philippines formally became a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) by ratifying the Rome Statute which mandated the prosecution of individuals for serious offenses like genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

• April 2017 – Lawyer Jude Sabio submitted the first formal complaint to the ICC against President Rodrigo Duterte alleging that his war on drugs constituted a crime against humanity. The complaint was backed by the testimony of former hitman Edgar Matobato.

• June 2017 – Opposition figures Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Representative Gary Alejano filed additional documentation with the ICC to expound on Sabio’s claims, accusing Duterte and his associates of engaging in widespread human rights violations.

• February 2018 – The ICC began a preliminary examination into the allegations of extrajudicial killings tied to the anti-drug campaign. Duterte responded with defiance, saying he was prepared to face the investigation.

• March 2018 – Duterte announced the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute, criticizing the ICC for targeting his administration and asserting that he would not be bound by its authority.

• August 2018 – A new complaint was filed against Duterte by human rights activists and the families of victims of the drug war, asking that he be held accountable for the mass killings.

• March 2019 – The Philippines officially exited the ICC, but the investigation into Duterte’s drug war was allowed to continue, as the ICC retained jurisdiction over events that occurred during the period the country was a member.

• December 2020 – The ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor concluded there was substantial evidence indicating that crimes against humanity were committed during the drug war, including widespread murder and torture.

• May 2021 – The ICC Prosecutor formally requested permission to investigate the drug war killings, focusing on events from 2011 to 2019, while highlighting the failure of the Philippine government to adequately investigate the crimes.

• September 2021 – The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber approved the investigation, expanding it to include allegations of killings during Duterte’s tenure as mayor of Davao City prior to becoming president.

• November 2021 – The Philippine government called for a deferral of the investigation, claiming that local authorities were already handling the cases, but the ICC proceeded with its inquiry.

• June 2022 – Prosecutor Karim Khan pressed for the resumption of the investigation, criticizing the Philippine government’s lack of significant action on the crimes committed before and during Duterte’s presidency.

• January 2023 – The ICC authorized the reopening of the investigation, despite objections from the Philippine government, which continued to reject the ICC’s authority.

• March 2023 – The Solicitor General of the Philippines submitted an appeal to halt the investigation, arguing that the Philippines’ exit from the Rome Statute should have negated the ICC’s jurisdiction, but the appeal was rejected by the ICC Appeals Chamber.

• July 2023 – The investigation into the drug war proceeded with prominent figures, including former Police Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, named as potential suspects in connection with the alleged crimes.

• November 2023 – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suggested the Philippines reevaluate its stance on the ICC, while some lawmakers urged the administration to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

• January 2024 – Former Senator Trillanes anticipated an arrest warrant for Duterte and prepared for potential legal challenges, while the government explored its options for resisting the ICC probe.

• May 2024 – Duterte publicly declared that he took full responsibility for the drug war but refused to apologize for it. He challenged the ICC to expedite its investigation.

• November 2024 – Despite political pressure, Duterte’s supporters continued to rally against the ICC investigation, while the administration maintained its stance of non-cooperation.

Duterte arrest

• 11 March 2025 – Duterte was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on an arrest warrant issued by the ICC. He was subsequently flown to The Hague, the Netherlands.

• 12 March 2025 – Vice President Sara Duterte flew to Amsterdam to meet with her father’s legal team and ensure his defense.

• 13 March 2025 – Duterte was transferred to the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague where he is detained as he awaits trial for alleged crimes related to the drug war.

KEY ICC ARREST WARRANTS:

2011: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, in 2011 became one of the first prominent figures to be charged by the ICC.

He was charged with crimes against humanity for his role in the violent suppression of the uprising against his father’s regime. After being captured in 2011, Gaddafi was sentenced to death by a Libyan court in 2015, though the sentence was not carried out.

In 2017, Gaddafi was released from custody, but the ICC’s arrest warrant remained active. He has since expressed his intention to run for political office in Libya, complicating his legal standing.

2009: Omar al-Bashir

Former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was wanted by the ICC since 2009 for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide during the Darfur conflict in 2003–2008.

Despite the warrants, al-Bashir remained in power until he was ousted in 2019. While he is currently detained in Sudan, he has yet to be transferred to the ICC to stand trial, and efforts to bring him to The Hague continue.