Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has been charged with three counts of crimes against humanity by International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors, who accuse him of involvement in at least 76 murders linked to his violent “war on drugs.”
A charge sheet dated July 4, but only released publicly on Monday, details the allegations against the 80-year-old ex-leader, who is currently detained at the ICC in The Hague. The first charge concerns his alleged role as co-perpetrator in 19 murders between 2013 and 2016 while serving as mayor of Davao City. The second charge covers 14 killings of so-called “High Value Targets” in 2016 and 2017 after he became president. The third count relates to 43 murders during “clearance” operations against alleged low-level drug users and pushers across the Philippines between 2016 and 2018.
Prosecutors said the actual number of victims during Duterte’s crackdown was much higher, with thousands killed in a widespread and systematic campaign. Rights groups have long accused Duterte’s anti-drug war of being marked by extrajudicial killings.
The ICC had earlier issued an arrest warrant for Duterte in March with one charge tied to 43 murders, but the expanded charge sheet now broadens the scope of allegations. Duterte was arrested in Manila on March 11 and flown the same night to the Netherlands, where he has been held at the ICC’s detention unit in Scheveningen Prison.
His court appearance, originally scheduled for this week, was postponed as judges consider whether he is medically fit to face trial. His lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, has argued that Duterte suffers from “cognitive impairment in multiple domains” and should not stand trial. At his first appearance by video link, Duterte appeared frail and barely responsive.
What you should know
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity at the ICC over his controversial drug war, accused of direct involvement in at least 76 murders.
Prosecutors argue the killings were part of a widespread campaign that claimed thousands of lives, while Duterte’s lawyers insist he is mentally unfit to stand trial.
