The International Criminal Court (ICC) has officially started transmitting applications from victims seeking to take part in the pre-trial proceedings against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, in connection with alleged crimes against humanity during his bloody anti-drug campaign.
In a document dated August 27, 2025, the ICC Registry submitted a total of 25 victim applications to Pre-Trial Chamber I. These were sorted into two categories: 15 applications under Group A, and 10 under Group B, following the structured framework laid out by the court in April this year.
The Victims Participation and Reparations Section of the Registry reviewed the applications before transmission. “The Registry hereby transmits to the Chamber 15 applications assessed by the Victims Participation and Reparations Section of the Registry as Group A applications and 10 applications assessed as Group B,” the court filing read.
To protect the identities and security of those involved, all application-related documents remain confidential, accessible only to the Registry and the Chamber.
The ICC’s pre-trial proceedings are part of its investigation into Duterte’s controversial “war on drugs,” a campaign that drew widespread condemnation over alleged extrajudicial killings. According to estimates from ICC prosecutors, the number of civilian deaths linked to the campaign ranges from 12,000 to 30,000.
Duterte has consistently denied wrongdoing, claiming the campaign targeted drug traffickers and criminals.
