THE OFFICE of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) has submitted a 27-page written observation to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I, strongly urging the dismissal of the defense’s challenge to the court’s jurisdiction over former President Rodrigo Duterte. The submission, dated June 9, 2025, argues that allowing Duterte to escape justice would undermine the ICC’s core purpose and deny victims accountability for alleged crimes during the “war on drugs.” The OPCV’s key arguments against the defense’s jurisdictional challenge are rooted in several critical points: Prior Investigation, the ICC’s investigation into the situation in the Philippines commenced before the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019; Preventing Evasion of Accountability, states should not be permitted to withdraw from the ICC simply to evade accountability; Upholding ICC’s Purpose, stopping the case now would run counter to the ICC’s fundamental purpose; Government Recognition, the Philippine government’s turning over of Duterte to the ICC in 2025 demonstrates an ongoing recognition of the court’s authority; and Justice for Victims, discontinuing the case at this stage would deny justice to the victims of the “war on drugs” campaign.
