International Criminal Court prosecutors are pushing forward with murder charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, claiming he played a central role in the deaths of thousands during his anti-drug campaign.
During pre-trial proceedings that began Monday at the war crimes tribunal in The Hague, prosecutors outlined three counts of murder as a crime against humanity against the 80-year-old former leader.
“Duterte’s so-called war on drugs resulted in the killings of thousands of civilians and many of these victims were children,” prosecutor Mame Niang told the court during opening statements for the confirmation hearings.
“Mr Duterte must be held to account and this case should be confirmed for trial,” Niang added.
The charges involve dozens of specific victims, though prosecutors argue this represents only a small portion of the actual casualties from Duterte’s crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
Court officials arrested Duterte and brought him to The Hague last March. Prosecutors allege he established, financed and equipped death squads specifically to hunt down and eliminate people accused of drug-related activities.
“Mr Duterte played a pivotal role in the committing of the charged crimes. His contribution was essential, as he was at the very heart of the plan to neutralise alleged criminals including through murder,” Niang stated.
Throughout his presidency, Duterte maintained that he only authorized police to use deadly force when defending themselves and consistently justified his anti-drug operations.
Outside the courthouse, Duterte’s critics demonstrated, shouting “Hold Duterte accountable!” in the Filipino language Tagalog.
“I hope, and I am quite confident, that the charges of murder and attempted murder will be confirmed” and Duterte’s guilt ultimately proven, said Cristina Palabay, who works with the human rights organization Karapatan.
Duterte will not attend the hearings, with his legal team citing cognitive deterioration that would prevent him from comprehending the proceedings.
“For us, it’s cowardice,” responded Sheerah Escudero, whose brother died during the anti-drug campaign. “We know that Duterte will not be able to escape accountability.”
The hearings will wrap up Friday, after which judges have up to 60 days to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to a full trial. Under ICC procedures, judges must approve the charges before any trial can begin.
