ICC Rocked by $2 Million Bribery Scandal as Duterte “War on Drugs” Trial Looms

ICC Rocked by $2 Million Bribery Scandal as Duterte “War on Drugs” Trial Looms

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | April 24, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – The International Criminal Court (ICC) is embroiled in a crisis of credibility, facing explosive allegations of a $2 million bribery scandal as it prepares for a landmark trial against former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. 

The court’s pre-trial judges have unanimously confirmed charges of crimes against humanity against Duterte for his administration’s controversial “war on drugs,” setting the stage for the first former Asian head of state to face such a trial.

The ruling, released Thursday, April 23, 2026, concludes that there are “substantial grounds to believe” Duterte bears responsibility for murder and attempted murder committed during the anti-drug campaign between 2016 and 2019. 

This pivotal moment for global justice unfolds amid intense geopolitical pressures on the ICC, including recent U.S. sanctions against its officials. Now, its internal integrity is under severe scrutiny, threatened by multi-million dollar graft claims that could erode public trust in its processes.

Duterte to Face Trial Amid Health Concerns and Accusations of Political Interference

At 81 years old, Duterte’s health has emerged as a significant point of contention. His legal team asserts he is too frail and mentally unwell to participate effectively, citing a visibly confused and fatigued video appearance during initial pre-trial hearings.

Lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman has vehemently challenged the ruling, launching a critique that accuses the current Philippine government, led by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., of actively aiding the prosecution while withholding assistance from the defense. “The Philippine government… is not going to help us in any way whatsoever,” Kaufman stated, alleging direct assistance to the prosecution “right from before the time that the former president was surrendered to the court.”

Malacañang, the Philippine presidential palace, has consistently maintained its distance, reiterating this week through Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro that any transfer of Duterte to The Hague would be executed “in line with Philippine laws and existing international law enforcement protocols,” not in compliance with a direct ICC order.

Kaufman further dismissed the ruling’s validity, alleging its failure to cite specific evidentiary support for the charges. He vowed rigorous cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, asserting the outcome was “preordained” and branding Duterte a critical “big catch” for the ICC to salvage its global relevance amidst an “existential crisis.” For millions of Duterte’s supporters in the Philippines, the case is widely perceived as politically motivated, a narrative the defense is expected to leverage throughout the proceedings.

Bombshell Allegations: $2M Bribe Claims Threaten to Derail ICC Proceedings

The ICC’s credibility crisis escalated in February 2026, when anti-corruption lawyer Levito Baligod held a press conference in San Juan, Metro Manila. Backed by 18 former Philippine Marines who submitted sworn affidavits, Baligod unleashed allegations: ICC investigators, during an official visit to the Philippines in December 2023, allegedly accepted $2 million (₱56 million) in cash bribes.

These claims are intertwined with a wider alleged ₱805 billion corruption racket involving anomalous government flood control projects. 

Baligod alleged that funds were siphoned from these contracts, with cash collected from the residence of former Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co in Pasig City before distribution. 

He named President Marcos Jr. as the mastermind, stating, “Both Speaker Romualdez and Zaldy Co won’t act without the orders of PBBM.” 

As of press time, President Marcos, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Co have not publicly addressed these specific bribery allegations concerning the ICC.

Crucially, Baligod claimed two suitcases containing ₱56 million were specifically prepared for “foreigners” later identified as ICC investigators, with payments allegedly coordinated through former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Baligod asserted the ICC team violated standard operational protocols by:

• Interviewing only witnesses recommended and provided by Trillanes.
• Holding closed-door meetings at private properties instead of official government venues.
• Accepting transport, food, and accommodation from individuals and groups openly politically opposed to Duterte.

“The ICC investigators themselves committed graft and corruption,” Baligod asserted, dismissing the entire case against Duterte as “manufactured” and not “bona fide.”

The ICC has consistently maintained its adherence to strict legal and ethical standards in all operations. While the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in March 2019, the court maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was a member state, specifically between 2016 and 2019.

Competing Claims and Intensifying Legal Battles

Former Senator Trillanes has vehemently denied all allegations, branding them “blatant lies” designed to discredit the ICC process and promising aggressive legal action. He has filed formal complaints for cyberlibel, perjury, and defamation against Baligod, the 18 ex-Marines, and others disseminating the claims, vowing, “I will pursue you all.”

Conversely, Baligod announced plans to file a formal complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, supported by the sworn statements of the former servicemen who have agreed to National Bureau of Investigation scrutiny. “I have a sliver of hope that the Ombudsman will act, but if not, we will pursue this even into the next administration,” he declared.

Malacañang has refrained from directly addressing the bribery allegations but reiterates its longstanding position that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the Philippines and previously dismissed any links between President Marcos and the court’s proceedings as “preposterous.”

Duterte Family Vows Defiance: “He Is Invictus”

Hours after the ruling, Duterte’s daughter, Veronica, delivered an emotional message to supporters, framing her father as a victim of political persecution. Reciting lines from the Victorian poem *Invictus*, she emphasized his enduring influence and public support. “Do not be fools and think he will die with his body. He burns in the bluest of blue through Congressman Pulong Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte, Mayor Baste Duterte, and through me, who is nobody yet, just his Kitty,” she stated.

Veronica concluded with defiance: “Remember this: No matter how much you hate PRRD, there will always be millions who love him just as much or even more. If you think you will win, no, you will not because either way, invictus.” She shared that Duterte often quotes the poem’s iconic lines: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” She declined to address separate claims by Trillanes alleging illicit payments received by the Duterte family from a suspected drug lord.

A Defining Crisis for Global Justice

These intertwined developments have ignited a global debate on judicial impartiality. What began as a landmark case concerning alleged crimes against humanity has now evolved into a defining test for one of the world’s foremost international judicial bodies. 

The outcome is poised to profoundly shape public trust in global justice for decades to come, raising critical questions about the legitimacy of proceedings when severe allegations of internal corruption directly challenge the very foundation of impartiality.