Reports

The presidency of Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2022 represents a challenging chapter in Philippine history. At the centre of his administration was the controversial “war on drugs” initially operated through Oplan Tokhang, which aimed to remove drug peddlers and users from the streets in order to provide peace and order to society. His campaign promise to take a hard stance on eradicating drugs resonated with many Filipinos, earning Duterte popularity and support among the masses, who wanted less criminality. However, the execution of such “war on drugs” policies gave rise to the question of where to draw the line between state-sanctioned violence and effective law enforcement. While the Duterte administration defended the campaign as necessary to restore peace and order in the country, many critics, including human rights organisations, brought to light the erosion of the rule of law and the gravity of the impact of the policies on vulnerable sectors of the community.

In the international arena, the human rights violations of the “war on drugs” campaign attracted significant attention, with the United Nations (UN) calling for investigations into the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. Other organisations and foreign governments also expressed concern over the magnitude of such human rights abuses. Later, the involvement of the International Criminal Court (ICC) marked a milestone in this controversial issue, as Duterte and the Philippines became a focal point for discussions on accountability, international law, and domestic sovereignty.

Given that proceedings related to the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs” are still pending with the ICC, this report aims to provide an overview of this ongoing issue and provide context to the case. It discusses Duterte’s rise and ascent to power, examines his political background and motivations, outlines his presidential campaign promises in 2016, and assesses the legacy of his presidential policies in Philippine politics. It also analyses his “war on drugs” campaign, which resulted in allegations of extrajudicial killings by local police. The policy led to widespread violence and thousands of deaths. Also, it analyses the social and human rights challenges faced by the families of the victims and the Filipino community as a whole.

In addition, the report discusses the response of the domestic and international community, the context of how this case was brought before the ICC and the ongoing status of the case. It also discusses the legal challenges of bringing this case under the purview of international law, in light of the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute. Further, the report looks ahead to justice and accountability in the Philippines, and offers insights into the possible reparation mechanisms for victims, the role of civil society and the need for institutional reforms, to ensure that such widespread violence in the country does not recur.