Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The charges relate to his alleged responsibility for numerous murders linked to his controversial anti-drug campaign, during which thousands of individuals, including minor drug offenders, were reportedly killed without trial. The ICC’s charge sheet, which contains several redacted sections, was officially released recently, although it dates back to July.
According to ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, Duterte is described as an “indirect co-perpetrator” in these killings, which are said to have been executed by various individuals, including police officers. The first charge involves his supposed involvement in the deaths of 19 people in Davao City from 2013 to 2016, while he was mayor. The other charges stem from his tenure as president from 2016 to 2022, focusing on the murders of 14 designated “high-value targets” and the killing and attempted killing of 45 individuals in village clearing operations.
Prosecutors allege that Duterte and his associates devised a collective plan to “neutralize” individuals deemed criminals, typically through violent means. Despite the extensive death toll attributed to his anti-drug efforts—official figures state more than 6,000 deaths, with human rights activists suggesting the true number could be much higher—Duterte has not issued any apologies for the campaign, asserting it was aimed at reducing street crime.
Duterte is notably the first former Asian head of state to face indictment by the ICC. He has been in custody in The Hague since March, and his lawyer has stated that he is unfit to stand trial due to health issues. Despite his imprisonment, he was re-elected as mayor of Davao in May, with his son currently holding the acting mayor position. Critics suggest that current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos may be using the ICC as a political tool against the Duterte family, with Marcos previously rejecting cooperation with the court.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg5e1v85lrdo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss