Duterte Found Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity
On Thursday, judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) convicted former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte of crimes against humanity related to his controversial drug war. The ruling centers around the violent crackdown that he allegedly directed during his presidency.
The three-judge panel reached a unanimous decision, stating there were “substantial grounds” to believe that Duterte was linked to numerous murders. This involvement dates back to his time as mayor of Davao City and continued during his presidency.
Duterte, now 80 years old, was arrested in the Philippines last year. He continues to deny any wrongdoing.
In a detailed ruling, the judges noted that the evidence indicated Duterte “developed, promulgated, and implemented” policies aimed at “neutralizing” suspected criminals.
According to prosecutors, Duterte’s orders led to police actions and hit squad activities, resulting in numerous killings. Some instances were described as a “perverted competition,” as noted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mame Mandiay Niang at a pre-trial hearing.
As of now, a trial date has not been established. Meanwhile, Duterte’s defense attorney, Nick Kaufman, asserted that his client aims to protect his legacy and firmly maintains his innocence.
Kaufman also claimed that the prosecution cherry-picked examples of Duterte’s “hyperbolic rhetoric,” arguing that he never intended to promote violence.
The estimated death toll from the drug war during Duterte’s administration varies widely, with police figures suggesting over 6,000 fatalities, while human rights groups estimate as many as 30,000.
Duterte chose not to appear in court for the hearing, having previously waived his right to do so. Last month, however, a judge determined he was fit to stand trial after an earlier hearing was postponed due to health concerns.
Back in 2018, the ICC Prosecutor launched a preliminary investigation into the drug campaign, which human rights advocates criticized as an attempt by Duterte to avoid accountability. Subsequently, he announced the Philippines’ withdrawal from the court.
Recently, appellate judges dismissed a request from Duterte’s legal team to dismiss the charges, asserting that the court still had jurisdiction despite the country’s departure.
