The International Criminal Court (ICC) has made a direct and urgent appeal for witnesses to come forward regarding the violent campaign against illegal drugs in the Philippines. The court is specifically seeking individuals who have firsthand knowledge of alleged killings and abuses that occurred between November 1, 2011, and March 19, 2019.
ICC Opens Channel for Witness Testimonies
In a statement issued on Friday, the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor announced it has launched a dedicated microsite to facilitate communication. This platform allows potential witnesses to provide initial information confidentially to the ongoing investigation. The office emphasized it is looking for direct witnesses to incidents, explicitly including active or former members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies who were involved in the operations.
The prosecutor's team is investigating allegations of crimes against humanity, which encompass murder, torture, and sexual violence linked to the government's anti-drug campaign. Witnesses can submit their accounts securely through the official portal at https://appeals.icc-cpi.int.
Duterte's Custody and Legal Proceedings
The call for witnesses comes as former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte remains in the custody of the international court. Duterte was surrendered under an ICC arrest warrant on March 12, 2025, concerning alleged crimes connected to the deadly drug war he championed.
His legal team's attempts to secure interim release have been unsuccessful. The ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber denied these requests in September 2025, a decision that was later upheld on appeal in November of the same year. The court has stated it will schedule a hearing to review the conditions of Duterte's detention at a future date.
Implications for the Investigation
This public appeal marks a significant step in the ICC's probe, aiming to gather crucial evidence from those who were present during the operations. The testimony of police officers could be particularly pivotal, as they were the primary implementers of the campaign on the ground. The ICC's move underscores the gravity of the investigation and its commitment to examining the period often referred to as the "War on Drugs" in the Philippines.
The outcome of this evidence-gathering phase will heavily influence the direction of the case against Duterte and could shape the historical narrative of a campaign that resulted in thousands of deaths.
