75% of Filipinos Say No One Above the Law, Not Even Duterte — Survey

In a survey gauging Filipino voters’ feelings about former President Rodrigo Duterte’s impending trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC), 75 percent of respondents say no one is above the law, not even a former president.

The report released by research firm WR Numero on Friday, April 11, shows that 61.7 percent of respondents believe Duterte should face trial in the ICC for killings related to his administration’s war on drugs, but only 52.9 percent trust the ICC to give Duterte a fair investigation and trial. Moreover, 61.4 percent say the ICC trial is important in uncovering the truth about the drug war.

66.3 percent say the Philippine government should allow the ICC to try Duterte, while 61.1 percent believe that co-perpetrators should also stand in the ICC. 65.5 percent also say President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should investigate and penalize police officials who abused their authority in the war on drugs.

Among those named in the first ICC complaint filed by the late Attorney Jude Josue Sabio in 2017 are former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and incumbent Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, retired police chief Royina Garma, then-House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, former Sen. Richard Gordon, and Sen. Alan Cayetano. 

Sabio, who served as legal counsel to confessed Davao Death Squad hitman Edgar Matobato, withdrew the complaint in 2020.

In 2017, former Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes and former Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano filed a supplementary complaint naming more PNP officials.

WR Numero conducted its survey from March 31 to April 7 through face-to-face interviews with 1,894 registered voters in the Philippines. According to the research firm, it is the first survey to be conducted on Duterte’s case following his arrest on March 11.

The report comes after Sen. Imee Marcos initiated a Senate probe into Duterte’s arrest. In an April 3 hearing, re-electionists Marcos and dela Rosa stressed that the Philippine government was not required to cooperate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

Pie Gonzaga

Culture Writer

Pie Gonzaga is the Culture Writer of Rolling Stone Philippines, primarily covering film, TV, food, and internet culture.

Gonzaga has worked on a range of stories for print and digital formats, from an interview with Cardinal Ambo David to features on queer party organizers such as CHURCH and Club Euphoria. Her work as the magazine’s former State of Affairs Writer includes news updates on pressing issues like the flood control scandal and the missing sabungeros, and covering rallies. Under Culture, she’s written episode recaps for hit shows, film reviews, and features on restaurants and the people who run them.

Before working with Rolling Stone Philippines, she contributed lifestyle and entertainment stories for a digital news platform.

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• In This Article:
• Drug War
• International Criminal Court
• Rodrigo Duterte