The International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally charged on Tuesday former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte with three counts of murder as crimes against humanity, citing his alleged role as an “indirect co-perpetrator” in killings linked to the Davao Death Squad (DDS) and his administration’s war on drugs.
In a decision signed by ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, the tribunal held Duterte criminally responsible for murders and attempted murders spanning his tenure as both mayor of Davao City and president of the Philippines.
Count 1 covers the murder of 19 victims in Davao City between 2013 and 2016, during Duterte’s mayoral term. It said that these killings, the ICC said, fall under crimes against humanity pursuant to articles 7(1)(a) and 25(3) of the Rome Statute.
Count 2 pertains to the killing of 14 alleged “high-value targets” across the country between 2016 and 2017, during Duterte’s presidency.
Count 3 involves 45 victims—43 of them killed—during barangay clearance operations conducted nationwide between 2016 and 2018.
According to the decision, an all three counts, Duterte is accused of having indirectly co-perpetrated the crimes or having ordered, induced, aided, and abetted the killings.
The ICC stated that its move marks a significant escalation in its probe into the bloody anti-drug campaign that left thousands dead.
ICC underscored that the former president has consistently denied wrongdoing, dismissing the court’s jurisdiction and describing its investigations as politically motivated.
Meanwhile, the Philippine government, which withdrew from the ICC in 2019, has yet to issue an official statement on the charges.
