Daily Tribune
(FILE PHOTO) Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on a screen with his lawyer Salvador Medialdea (L) in the courtroom during his first appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charge of crimes against humanity over his deadly crackdown on narcotics, in The Hague on 14 March 2025. The 79-year-old, the first ex-Asian head of state to face charges at the ICC, followed by videolink during a short hearing to inform him of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, as well as his rights as a defendant. Duterte stands accused of the crime against humanity of murder over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups said killed thousands.
Peter Dejong / POOL / AFP
A majority of registered Filipino voters oppose the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with his controversial and bloody war on drugs, according to a new Pulse Asia survey.
The nationwide poll, conducted from 6 to 9 May and involving 1,200 respondents, found that 58 percent of Filipinos disagreed with Duterte’s arrest by the ICC. Of that number, 33 percent said they “strongly disagree."
Meanwhile, 26% of respondents expressed support for the arrest — 10% “strongly agree” and 16% “somewhat agree.” Sixteen percent were undecided.
Opposition to Duterte’s arrest was highest in Mindanao at 96 percent, followed by the Visayas at 60 percent, and balance Luzon at 42 percent.
Conversely, approval of the arrest was highest in Metro Manila at 43 percent, followed by balance Luzon at 35 percent, the Visayas at 24 percent, and Mindanao at just 1 percent.
Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in March and flown to The Hague. The ICC’s pre-trial chamber has provisionally scheduled the confirmation of charges hearing for 23 September 2025.
