How Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly anti-drug campaign in the Philippines led to his downfall

The International Criminal Court (ICC) began hearings on February 23, 2026, to determine whether the trial against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte should proceed. Prosecutors at the Hague-based war crimes court have charged Duterte with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity. The counts involve dozens of victims that accusers say were only a fraction of the real death toll in his clampdown on alleged drug users and criminals. The 80-year-old politician is expected to be linked to his tough anti-drug stance while in office that eventually led to his arrest by the ICC.