Judges at the International Criminal Court on Thursday upheld crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte over the deadly anti-drug campaign he is accused of directing while in power.
A three-judge panel unanimously concluded there were ‘substantial grounds’ to believe Duterte bore responsibility for numerous killings, both during his time as mayor of Davao and later as the country’s president. Duterte, now 80, was arrested in the Philippines last year and has denied all allegations.
In a detailed 50-page ruling, the judges said evidence indicates Duterte ‘developed, disseminated and implemented’ a policy aimed at ‘neutralising’ suspected criminals. Prosecutors allege that police officers and hired hit squads carried out dozens of murders under his direction, driven either by financial incentives or fear of becoming targets themselves.
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“For some, killing reached the level of a perverse form of competition,” deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang told the court during pre-trial proceedings in February. No date has yet been scheduled for the start of the trial.
Duterte’s lead defense lawyer, Nick Kaufman, told the court in February that his client ‘stands behind his legacy resolutely’ and ‘maintains his innocence absolutely’. He argued that prosecutors had selectively used Duterte’s often fiery rhetoric, insisting the former leader never intended to encourage violence.
Estimates of the death toll linked to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign vary widely, ranging from more than 6,000 reported by national police to as many as 30,000 claimed by human rights organisations. Duterte has not attended any of the court’s hearings, having waived his right to be present. Judges ruled last month that he is fit to stand trial after delaying an earlier session due to concerns over his health.
Prosecutors at the ICC first announced in 2018 that they would open a preliminary investigation into the killings. Shortly afterward, Duterte—then still in office—declared that the Philippines would withdraw from the court, a move critics say was intended to shield him from accountability.
On Wednesday, appeals judges rejected a request from Duterte’s legal team to dismiss the case, ruling that the court retains jurisdiction despite the Philippines’ withdrawal.
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