ICC commits former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to trial over crimes against humanity
Prosecutors allege the creation of armed death squads, while the former president denies the charges and questions his ability to attend proceedings.
Judges at the International Criminal Court have unanimously confirmed three counts of murder as crimes against humanity against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The ruling commits the former head of state to a landmark trial, with the court finding substantial grounds to believe he played a key role in the deaths of 76 individuals and the attempted murder of two others. These specific incidents occurred during his presidency between 2016 and 2022, a period prosecutors describe as a violent campaign against drug users and dealers.
The prosecution alleges that Duterte created, funded, and armed death squads to carry out these killings. The court noted that available evidentiary material demonstrates a common plan between the former president and his co-perpetrators to kill alleged criminals through violent crimes. While the ICC proceedings focus on the confirmed cases of 76 deaths, the broader context of the war on drugs has seen estimates of the total death toll during his term vary significantly, ranging from 6,000 according to police reports to 30,000 cited by human rights groups.
Duterte, who was arrested in the Philippines last year, firmly denies the charges brought against him. His defence team maintains that he instructed the police to act only in self-defence and argues that the prosecution has cherry-picked examples of his rhetoric to incite violence. Lead defence lawyer Nick Kaufman stated that his client never intended to incite violence, a claim that stands in direct contrast to the prosecution's assertion of a systematic campaign of murder.
Complicating the legal proceedings, it remains unclear whether Duterte will personally attend his trial. His defence team has stated that he is mentally too weak to follow the proceedings, raising questions about his capacity to participate in the case. In previous instances involving the court, the timeline between the confirmation of charges and the commencement of a trial has taken up to a year, though no specific date has been set for this case.
Human rights organisations have welcomed the decision as a significant development for international justice. Ritz Lee Santos, Director of Amnesty International Philippines, described the ruling as a historic moment for victims, sending a clear message that those alleged to have committed widespread murder will face trial. Similarly, Maria Elena Vignoli of Human Rights Watch noted that the case sends a powerful message that no one responsible for grave crimes is above the law, regardless of their position.
