More than six in 10 Filipinos say the co-perpetrators of former President Rodrigo Duterte should be arrested and brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity for killings linked to his administration’s war on drugs. This is based on the April 2025 national survey by non-partisan public opinion research firm WR Numero.
The latest Philippine Public Opinion Monitor surveyed Filipinos on whether the co-perpetrators of the former president should also be arrested and face the ICC if it issues an arrest warrant.
The nationwide survey revealed that 61% of Filipinos agree that former President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged collaborators should also be brought before the ICC. Meanwhile, 21% disagree, and 18% are unsure.
Regionally, support for the arrest of co-perpetrators is highest in South Luzon (75%), followed by Metro Manila (73%), the Visayas (70%), and North-Central Luzon (67%). In contrast, disagreement is highest in Mindanao, where 42% oppose the move, 27% agree, and 32% are undecided.
When asked whether President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should prioritize arresting others involved if the ICC issues an arrest warrant, 48% of Filipinos said it should be a priority. Meanwhile, 31% disagreed, and 21% were unsure.
Filipinos were also asked to name individuals they believe could potentially face an arrest warrant from the ICC as co-perpetrators in the alleged crimes of former President Rodrigo Duterte. More than seven in 10 Filipinos (71%) did not provide any names.
Among those who did, Sen. Bato dela Rosa was mentioned most frequently, with 20% identifying him as a possible recipient of an ICC arrest warrant.
Other names mentioned include President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (3%) and former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (2%). Less than 1% of Filipinos named Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go (0.9%), Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Nicolas Dela Torre (0.6%), and Vice President Sara Duterte and the Duterte family (0.6%).
Specific to Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, public opinion is divided on whether the Senate should protect the senator from a potential ICC arrest warrant. Four in 10 Filipinos (40%) say the upper chamber should offer protection, while 38% disagree and 22% are undecided.
The survey questions featured in this press release 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 a nationally representative sample of 1,894 registered voters residing in the Philippines.
The nationwide survey has a margin of error of ±2% at a 95% confidence level. At the subnational level, the margin of error is ±6% for the National Capital Region, ±5% for North and Central Luzon, ±5% for South Luzon, ±5% for the Visayas, and ±5% for Mindanao, all at the same 95% confidence level.
These findings are part of the WR Numero Philippine Public Opinion Monitor, Volume 2025, Issue 2 (April 2025 National Survey). The survey includes the latest voter preferences for the May 2025 and 2028 elections, as well as current public opinion on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.PR
