By Carlito Pablo
Prosecutors with the International Criminal Court (ICC) are not yet done with their investigation into the war on drugs waged by former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte.
The probe continues even after the arrest of Duterte last year and the recent revelation of the names of at least eight of his alleged accomplices.
“The OTP is pursuing efforts to deliver justice to victims in the Philippines,” the tribunal states in a guide released in February 2026, referring to the Office of the Prosecutor.
“This investigation focuses on crimes allegedly committed on the territory of the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the so called ‘war on drugs’ campaign,” the material notes.
On February 27 this year, an ICC pre-trial court concluded four days of hearing to confirm charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Duterte as mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao and later as president of the country.
Prosecutors have charged the former leader of three counts of murder involving the deaths of 78 people.
“While conducting its investigation, the Office continues to pursue investigative activities and engage with relevant stakeholders,” the ICC states in its guide.
People with information are welcome to share what they know.
“As part of its ongoing and active investigation, the OTP encourages individuals with relevant information to come forward. They can do so through the following secure channel: https://www.icc-cpi.int/philippines/witness-appeal,” the material states.
The ICC explains what’s to be expected in a media release on February 27, 2026 after the pre-trial chamber wrapped up the confirmation of charges hearing.
According to the tribunal, the judges will start their deliberations and deliver a written decision within 60 days of the end of the confirmation proceedings.
The chamber may then:
- Confirm the charges and commit Duterte to trial; or
- Decline to confirm the charges and stop the proceedings Duterte; or
- Adjourn the hearing and request the prosecutor to provide further evidence, to conduct further investigations or to amend any charge.
“The Defence and the Prosecutor cannot directly appeal this decision. However they can request authorisation from the Pre-Trial Chamber to appeal it,” the media release notes.
The ICC is a permanent international tribunal based in The Hague, Netherlands.
Established by the Rome Statute, a treaty adopted in 1998 and entered into force in 2022, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of the gravest crimes under international law. These include including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
Duterte was arrested in Manila on March 11, 2025 and was surrendered the ICC the following day.
The ex-leader is being held at the ICC Detention Centre in Scheveningen, The Hague.
In a document dated February 13, 2026, ICC prosecutors named eight alleged co-perpetrators of Duterte in what they describe as a “Common Plan” to “neutralize” suspected criminals through murder.
They are former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa,
former PNP National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) regional director Vicente Danao, former NCRPO regional director Camilo Cascolan, former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Dante Gierran, former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Isidro Lapeña, and former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.
The ICC states in its guide that the investigation into Duterte’s drug war was opened on September 15,2021, when a pre-trial chamber granted the prosecution’s request to open a probe.
“The ICC Office of the Prosecutor’s investigation in relation to the situation in the Philippines continues,” the February 2026 material notes.
The Philippine Star newspaper reported that while it may take up to 60 days from February 27, 2026 before the release of the decision from the confirmation hearings, there are a number of matters pending before the tribunal.
At the ICC appeals chamber composed of a different set of judges, the paper related that Duterte’s defence team has two pending appeals.
One challenges the October 23, 2025 decision of the ICC pre-trial chamber that decided that the ICC has jurisdiction over alleged crimes against humanity committed in the Philippines from November 1, 2011 to March 17, 2019.
The other is an appeal by Duterte’s lawyer regarding his continued detention at The Hague.
ReyFort Media 
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