A majority of Filipinos surveyed by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) believe that former President Rodrigo Duterte should be held accountable for drug war deaths during his administration.

The nationwide survey, conducted from 24 to 30 September with 1,500 adult respondents and a ±3 percent margin of error, found that 50 percent agreed Duterte should be liable for drug war–related killings. Meanwhile, 32 percent disagreed, 15 percent were undecided, and 4 percent said they did not know enough to answer.

Respondents from the Visayas were the most supportive of holding Duterte accountable (54 percent), followed by Metro Manila (53 percent) and Balance Luzon (52 percent). Support was lowest in Mindanao, Duterte’s political stronghold, at 39 percent.

By age group, Filipinos aged 55 and above expressed the strongest support for accountability, followed by those aged 45 to 54 (52 percent), millennials aged 35 to 44 (45 percent), and Gen Z respondents aged 18 to 24 (43 percent).

The survey results came shortly after the International Criminal Court (ICC) denied Duterte’s request for interim release in a 23-page ruling, citing that he “continues to pose a flight risk.” The court emphasized that his detention remains necessary pending pre-trial proceedings and potential trials.

The former president appeared before ICC judges for the first time last March 14 via virtual conference. He faces charges of crimes against humanity in connection with multiple murder and attempted murder cases tied to his 22-year tenure as Davao City mayor and his presidency from 2016 to 2022.

According to Human Rights Watch, more than 12,000 people were killed during Duterte’s “war on drugs.”