Court Outlines Crimes Against Humanity Case Against Former Philippine President Duterte

ICC Details Crimes Against Humanity Charges Against Former Philippine President Duterte.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has released details of crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, accusing him of involvement in the killings of at least 76 people both during his presidency and his tenure as mayor of Davao City.

The charges, made public Monday, are based on a 15-page sheet submitted by ICC prosecutors on July 4. They include:

• 19 victims killed while Duterte was Davao City mayor between 2013 and 2016.
• 14 targeted killings between 2016 and 2017 during his presidency.
• 43 deaths in so-called “clearance operations” between 2016 and 2018.

Prosecutors allege Duterte instructed and authorized violent acts, including murder, against alleged criminals such as drug dealers and users.

Duterte, his lawyers, and family have not immediately responded. During his presidency, Duterte consistently denied authorizing extrajudicial killings, though he frequently threatened drug suspects with death and urged police to use lethal force if suspects resisted arrest.

In March, Philippine authorities arrested Duterte on an ICC-issued warrant, and he is currently held at an ICC facility in the Netherlands.

Supporters have criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration — a political rival of Duterte — for surrendering him to the ICC, disputing the court’s jurisdiction.

A hearing originally scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed to allow judges to consider arguments from Duterte’s attorneys that he is unfit to stand trial.