Majority of Pinoys oppose DU30's ICC arrest — survey

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.