A survey commissioned by Stratbase Group revealed that at least 50 percent of Filipinos believe former President Rodrigo Duterte should be held accountable by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the killings that occurred during his administration’s war on drugs.
The ICC prosecutor has charged the former president with murder and frustrated murder for alleged crimes committed during his tenure as mayor of Davao City from 2013 to 2016 and as president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. Duterte is being held criminally responsible for dozens of murders among the 6,000 people killed — most without due process — during his anti-drug campaign.
Duterte has denied the allegations against him. The ICC has since denied his interim release request, while his legal team said it filed an appeal to the ICC decision “a week ago.”
The survey was conducted from September 24 to 30 through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults nationwide: 300 in Metro Manila, 600 in Balance Luzon (areas outside Metro Manila), and 300 each in the Visayas and Mindanao.
A majority of Filipinos agreed that Duterte must be held accountable, while 32 percent disagreed, 15 percent were undecided, and 4 percent said they did not know enough to give an opinion.
Stratbase Group President Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said the results highlight the growing public recognition that accountability must prevail regardless of political power.
“People understand that no one, not even a former president, should be above the law,” Manhit said.