The International Criminal Court (ICC) has filed charges against Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, with crimes against humanity.
Duterte, 80, is accused of being criminally liable for the murders of dozens during his controversial anti-drug campaign. This campaign, often referred to as his war on drugs, allegedly resulted in the killings of numerous small-time drug dealers, users, and others without any judicial process.
The charges, which date back to July, were only made public on Monday, and the ICC’s charge sheet has several sections redacted. Mame Mandiaye Niang, the ICC’s deputy prosecutor, stated that Duterte was an “indirect co-perpetrator” in these killings, carried out by various parties, including law enforcement officers.
The first count of the charges involves Duterte’s supposed role in the deaths of 19 individuals in Davao City between 2013 and 2016 when he was mayor.
The next two charges are linked to his presidency, spanning from 2016 to 2022, during which he spearheaded his notorious war on drugs. One charge pertains to the murders of 14 “high-value targets” throughout the Philippines, while the other covers the killing and attempted murder of 45 people in operations aimed at clearing villages.
Prosecutors highlighted that Duterte and his alleged accomplices “shared a common plan or agreement to ‘neutralise’ alleged criminals in the Philippines (including those perceived or alleged to be associated with drug use, sale or production) through violent crimes including murder.”
Duterte has remained unapologetic for his aggressive crackdown on drug-related offenses, which led to the deaths of more than 6,000 people, though human rights groups suggest the true death toll could be much higher.
He justified the measures, claiming that they were necessary to eliminate street-level crimes associated with drug abuse.
Rodrigo Duterte, who is the first former Asian head of state to face ICC charges, has been in detention in The Hague, Netherlands, since March. His lawyer has argued that Duterte is unable to stand trial due to his declining health.
Despite being incarcerated, Duterte was re-elected mayor of Davao in May, with his son, Sebastian, continuing to act as mayor since 2022.
Supporters of Duterte argue that the ICC’s actions are politically motivated, suggesting that they are part of a strategy by the current president, Ferdinand Marcos, who has had public disputes with the Duterte family.
The ICC relies on the cooperation of governments for arrests, and the Philippines under Marcos has previously refused to assist the court.
