In a significant development at the International Criminal Court, it was revealed that Rodrigo Duterte sanctioned killings and personally selected victims as part of his anti-drug campaign. The court commenced a series of hearings to determine if Duterte should stand trial, with ICC deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang emphasizing that accountability applies to all, including those in power.
Despite being deemed fit to participate, the 80-year-old Duterte was absent from the proceedings as per a defense request granted by the court. Niang highlighted Duterte’s prominent role in the extrajudicial killings of alleged drug offenders during his tenure as both Davao City mayor and national president, stating that he authorized murders and hand-picked victims directly.
While Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, refuted the allegations, asserting the former leader’s denial of the charges, the judges will deliberate for 60 days post the hearings to determine whether a full trial is warranted. Demonstrators supporting and opposing Duterte gathered outside the court during the hearings.
One demonstrator, Patricia Enriquez, expressed the significance of the moment for victims of Duterte’s alleged actions, calling for global support for truth, justice, and accountability. In contrast, another protester, Aldo Villarta, criticized the international court’s involvement in trying a former Philippine leader, citing concerns about national sovereignty and Duterte’s human rights.
Duterte faces accusations of crimes against humanity, specifically linked to 76 murders from 2013 to 2018, although the actual death toll from his anti-drug campaign is believed to be much higher. The former president was apprehended in Manila in 2021, subsequently transferred to the Netherlands, and has been detained at the ICC’s facility in Scheveningen Prison.
The charges against Duterte encompass his alleged complicity in various murders spanning his time as mayor and president, including the targeting of “High Value Targets” and operations against suspected drug offenders. The families of victims closely followed the proceedings in Manila, expressing disappointment at Duterte’s absence and questioning his accountability for the reported atrocities.