A large majority or 6 in 10 of Filipinos believe former President Rodrigo Duterte should be tried before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his controversial war on drugs and held accountable for the killings during his term, public opinion firm WR Numero said.
In its latest independent survey released on Friday, April 11, WR Numero said that 62% of Filipino respondents believe that Duterte should face charges of crimes against humanity before The Hague.
Additionally, 52% of those surveyed said that Duterte should be held legally accountable and receive a fair trial, while 54% believe that he must answer for the thousands of extrajudicial killings linked to anti-drug operations.
Meanwhile, less than one in four Filipinos disagreed with both statements, saying it is not necessary for Duterte to personally face charges or be tried for his bloody anti-drug campaign.
About 61% of Filipinos believe that investigating and putting the former president on trial would help reveal the truth behind the killings, while 21% disagreed and 18% remained undecided.
The survey also showed that 75% of respondents believe no one is above the law—including former presidents. Meanwhile, 16% were unsure, and 8% disagreed with the statement.
There was also strong public support for holding Duterte’s alleged co-perpetrators accountable, WR Numero noted. Around 61% said it is important that they also be tried before the ICC, compared to 21% who said it is unimportant and 18% who were undecided.
Around 66% of Filipinos believe President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should make it a priority to investigate and prosecute police officers who abused their power during Duterte’s war on drugs. Meanwhile, 18% were undecided, and 16% disagreed with this stance.
“We’ve seen a big support for the process that the former president, Rodrigo Duterte, is currently a part of, a process involving the International Criminal Court where there were cases launched against him,” WR Numero Chairman Robin Garcia said.
“We feel that there is a big level of legitimacy and support for the ICC as an institution and the ensuing events that may take place that was spearheaded by the ICC,” he added.
The survey, conducted from March 31 to April 7, polled 1,894 Filipino adults. It has a margin of error of ±2% and a 95% confidence level. The study was conducted roughly 20 days after Duterte’s arrest and transfer to the ICC.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 and swiftly transferred that same day to the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court to face charges related to his drug war, which claimed the lives of thousands, mostly from impoverished communities.
He is currently being held at a detention facility in The Hague, awaiting a confirmation of charges hearing scheduled for September 23, where he will have the chance to challenge the allegations brought against him. (TCSP)
