Philippine Catholic Church Launches Probe into Duterte's Drug War Era
Philippine Catholic Church has launched an independent fact-finding team to investigate extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to the drug war during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year tenure, activists supported by the church announced on Wednesday (27 May).
The launch of the joint EJK fact-finding team came hours before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague announced that Duterte’s trial, aged 81, is scheduled to begin in late November 2026.
Duterte, in office from 2016 to 2022, spearheaded a massive anti-drug campaign to prevent the Philippines from becoming a narcotics hub. Human rights groups allege the crackdown resulted in up to 30,000 deaths, leading to ICC charges of crimes against humanity.
The five-member EJK fact-finding team is expected to begin public hearings in July 2026.
Raul Pangalangan, a law professor and former ICC judge, stated the commission was “formed to ensure the stories of victims, survivors, and families are heard, verified, and documented.” Pangalangan will chair the team.
Pangalangan said the “bloody crackdown under Duterte’s regime occurred because everyone chose to look away. It seemed like a collective agreement to stay silent.”
The team will submit recommendations to the Office of the President, Congress, and the National Police Commission based on their findings.
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, a bishop serving as an advisor to the fact-finding team, said the investigation is “long overdue.”
“This is an opportunity for catharsis to restore our nation’s dignity,” David said. “Ultimately, we aim for healing—not just for the victims but for our institutions.”
David noted many police officers involved in the crackdown claimed victims “resisted” officers. The commission seeks to uncover truths “buried alongside those accused of resistance.”
The group aims to investigate thousands of police officers implicated in the violent operations who have yet to face legal consequences.
Meanwhile, former National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa, Duterte’s right-hand man in executing the drug war, is now a fugitive after fleeing amid tensions in the Philippine Senate.
The ICC has announced the trial for Duterte’s crimes against humanity charges will commence on 30 November 2026.
Duterte was arrested in the Philippines in 2025 and transferred to The Hague for trial. He faces charges related to his drug war campaign as president and similar violence during his tenure as mayor of Davao City.
Duterte denies the charges, claiming police shootings during operations were acts of self-defence.
The former president is currently detained in The Hague’s detention centre. His legal team argues his mental health is unfit for trial proceedings.