THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has charged former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte with crimes against humanity, accusing him of orchestrating murders and attempted murders during his tenure as both mayor of Davao City and president of the Philippines.
In a public redacted decision released late Monday evening, September 22, the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor outlined three counts of charges against Duterte.
Count 1 alleges Duterte’s responsibility for murders committed in Davao City during his time as mayor, linked to 19 victims between 2013 and around 2016.
Count 2 accuses him of directing the killings of so-called “high-value targets” across the Philippines during his presidency, tied to 14 victims between 2016 and 2017.
Count 3 involves murders and attempted murders carried out during barangay clearance operations nationwide, which resulted in 45 victims between 2016 and 2018.
Prosecutors argue that Duterte is criminally liable under articles of the Rome Statute for indirect co-perpetration, ordering and inducing crimes, and aiding and abetting.
The filing was signed by Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang and dated September 22, in The Hague.
The charges stem from the ICC’s years-long investigation into Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs,” which has faced international criticism for alleged extrajudicial killings.
