KARAPATAN to ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I: Confirm murder, attempted murder charges vs Duterte
KARAPATAN Public Information
PRESS STATEMENT
February 23, 2026
Reference: Cristina Palabay, KARAPATAN secretary general, 09173162831
Maria Sol Taule, KARAPATAN Deputy Secretary General, 09452966916
KARAPATAN Public Information Desk, 09189790580
KARAPATAN to ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I: Confirm murder, attempted murder charges vs Duterte
KARAPATAN human rights alliance urges the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to confirm the charges of murder and attempted murder against Rodrigo Duterte so that the proceedings could soon move on to the trial stage.
Duterte’s defense team has been filing motion after motion, all designed to delay and derail the confirmation of charges and the trial itself. These motions betray the Duterte camp’s fears that their client’s acts are indefensible, and their best bet hinges on such dilatory tactics and harping on unfounded claims that Duterte is unfit to stand trial.
The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I has already denied the Duterte camp’s motions to disqualify three of the victims’ lawyers and to disclose more personal information on a number of prosecution witnesses, including their whereabouts -- a move that could have endangered their lives, safety and security.
After hurdling these obstacles, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber is set to conduct confirmation of charges hearings which will span four days (February 23-24, 26-27) and help it determine whether the prosecution has sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to proceed to trial.
Duterte and his cohorts are accountable for his mass murder of the poor in his sham drug war and his counterinsurgency program. The families of victims have waited long enough. We are in full solidarity with the Filipino people’s demand for justice and accountability - lahat ng sangkot sa pasistang terorismo sa mamamayan, dapat managot.
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KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign. It was established in 1995.