The International Criminal Court is once again reaching out—this time, directly to the people who lived through the darkest moments of the Philippines’ war on drugs.
In a public announcement, the ICC launched a dedicated microsite where witnesses can safely submit information about alleged crimes committed during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
The message is clear.
And urgent.
According to the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor, investigators are examining allegations of crimes against humanity, including killings, torture, and sexual violence, carried out between November 2011 and March 2019—a period covering Duterte’s time as Davao City mayor and later as President.
“This is about the truth,” the ICC said in a Facebook post.
“And it needs voices.”
The court is specifically appealing to direct witnesses—including members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies who may have been involved or had firsthand knowledge of the incidents—to come forward and speak with investigators.
To make the process more accessible, the ICC has created an online microsite where information can be submitted securely. The call for witnesses is also available in Tagalog and Visayan, ensuring more Filipinos can understand and respond.
Behind the legal language lies a painful history.
Duterte is facing 49 counts of murder and attempted murder linked to the war on drugs—a campaign that officially left 6,200 drug suspects dead, though human rights groups believe the true number may be far higher.
As the investigation continues, developments are also unfolding on the defense side.
Earlier, Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, submitted a joint medical report prepared by the former president’s own medical experts. The filing argues that Duterte’s health has significantly deteriorated and that his condition warrants release from detention.
The report was submitted to ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I on January 9, as an annex to a 12-page legal filing—more than a month after an independent panel of experts submitted their own assessments on Duterte’s fitness to stand trial.
Now, two narratives move forward side by side.
One centers on health and detention.
The other, on justice and accountability.
With the ICC reopening its call, the spotlight returns to those who saw, heard, and survived the violence. For witnesses who have stayed silent for years, the court’s message is simple:
If you know something—
If you were there—
Now is the time to speak.
