Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s initial appearance before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court, March 14, 2025. ICC

MANILA — About 62 percent of Filipinos believe it is important for former President Rodrigo Duterte to stand trial before the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his war on drugs, according to a WR Numero Research Poll released Friday.

Meanwhile, 20 percent of survey respondents disagreed with Duterte’s possible ICC trial, while 19 percent were unsure.

The same March 31 to April 7, 2025 found that 52 percent agreed that Duterte should be held accountable for crimes against humanity, while 24 percent disagreed and 25 percent were unsure.

Sixty-one percent believe that the investigation and subsequent trial will help uncover the truth about drug war killings.

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The poll also suggests that 61 percent of Filipinos believe it is important to bring his co-perpetrators to trial at the ICC.

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WR Numero added that 66 percent believed President Ferdinand  Marcos Jr. should prioritize investigating and prosecuting police officers who abused their authority during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. Eighteen percent were undecided and 16 percent disagreed with this approach.

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"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.

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He noted that about half of respondents trust the international court would conduct a fair investigation and trial for Duterte.

Sixty-six percent said that the Philippines should allow the ICC to do its job and ensure smooth and fair investigation.

WR Numero said the survey questions were commissioned by Dr. Gary Ador Dionisio. The nationwide survey, conducted from March 31 to April 7, 2025, was done through face-to-face interviews with 1,894 registered voters residing in the Philippines.

The pollster said that the survey has a margin of error of ±2 percent at a 95-percent confidence level.

Duterte was arrested on March 11 and whisked away the same day to the Netherlands-based tribunal to face charges tied to his drug war, in which thousands of mostly poor men were killed.

He is currently in a detention center in The Hague, awaiting a confirmation of charges hearing on September 23, where he will have the opportunity to contest the accusations against him.

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The ex-leader has said "everything I did, I did for my country," his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte told reporters last week.

She also relayed that her father wants proceedings against him to move as quickly as possible, with the 80-year-old fearful of dying in custody.

— With reports from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News and Agence France-Presse