A new nationwide survey reveals that a significant majority of Filipinos want former President Rodrigo Duterte to face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and be held accountable for alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration’s drug war.
According to WR Numero’s April 2025 Philippine Public Opinion Monitor, 62% of Filipinos believe it is important for Duterte to personally stand trial at The Hague for the charges filed against him. Meanwhile, 52% agree he should be held accountable for crimes against humanity, particularly murder linked to the drug war. Only 20% disagreed with his trial, and 24% rejected his accountability.
The survey was conducted from March 31 to April 7, 2025, shortly after Duterte’s March 12 arrest by Interpol and Philippine authorities under an ICC-issued warrant. This marks the first national public opinion poll since the former president’s detainment.
Strong belief in justice and accountability
A majority of Filipinos (61%) also believe that an ICC investigation and trial could help reveal the truth about the killings that occurred during Duterte’s war on drugs. Furthermore, 75% of respondents stated that no one — not even former presidents — should be above the law.
Calls for justice extend beyond Duterte himself. About 61% of Filipinos believe it is important for Duterte’s co-perpetrators to also stand trial at the ICC. Likewise, 66% of respondents think current President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should focus on investigating and prosecuting police officers who abused their power during the anti-drug campaign.
Divided trust in ICC, but strong support for cooperation
Public opinion remains split when it comes to trust in the ICC, with 53% expressing confidence in the court’s ability to ensure a fair and impartial investigation, while 47% remain distrustful.
Despite this division, 66% of Filipinos agree that the Philippines should cooperate with the ICC to facilitate a fair trial for Duterte. Only 17% disapproved of this approach.
Survey methodology
The survey was commissioned by Dr. Gary Ador Dionisio and involved face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,894 registered voters. The margin of error is ±2% at the national level and up to ±6% at the subnational level.
The April 2025 WR Numero survey also includes insights into voter preferences for the upcoming 2025 and 2028 elections, and views on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case.
