(SeaPRwire) – International Criminal Court judges on Thursday formally approved crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, relating to lethal anti-drug operations he is accused of supervising during his presidency.
A unanimous three-judge panel determined there are “substantial grounds” to hold the former leader accountable for numerous murders, initially during his tenure as mayor of Davao city in the southern Philippines and subsequently as president.
The 80-year-old Duterte, who was arrested in the Philippines last year, has pleaded not guilty to all allegations.
In a 50-page ruling, the judges concluded that evidence indicates Duterte “formulated, promoted, and executed” a strategy “to ‘neutralize’ suspected criminals.”
Prosecutors allege that dozens of murders were committed by police and assassins following Duterte’s orders, with perpetrators motivated by financial rewards or fear of being targeted.
“For some individuals, the killings became a twisted kind of contest,” deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang stated during pretrial proceedings in February.
The commencement date for the trial remains unscheduled.
In the February hearings, Duterte’s principal attorney, Nick Kaufman, informed the court that his client “firmly stands by his legacy and unequivocally asserts his innocence.”
Kaufman contended that the prosecution selectively used instances of Duterte’s “provocative language,” arguing his client’s remarks were never meant to encourage violence.
Figures for the number of deaths under Duterte’s administration differ widely, ranging from the over 6,000 acknowledged by national police to as many as 30,000 cited by human rights organizations.
Duterte has exercised his right to waive court attendance and has not been present for hearings. Judges last month ruled him medically fit for trial, following a prior delay due to health considerations.
ICC prosecutors initiated a preliminary examination into the drug war’s violence in 2018. The then-president Duterte declared the Philippines’ withdrawal from the court a month later, a step rights campaigners view as an attempt to evade responsibility.
On Wednesday, appellate judges dismissed a motion from Duterte’s defense to dismiss the case, rejecting the argument that the ICC lost jurisdiction due to the country’s departure.
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