Philippines' former president Rodrigo Duterte will face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) after judges unanimously confirmed charges of crimes against humanity over his "war on drugs." The pre-trial judges concluded on Thursday that there are substantial grounds to believe Duterte is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder related to anti-drugs crackdowns that led to thousands of deaths.
It is alleged that these crimes were committed as part of a "widespread and systematic attack" against the civilian population during Duterte's presidency, which began in 2016, and his earlier term as mayor of Davao City. Duterte, 80, was arrested in Manila last year and flown to The Hague. He has denied all charges. The trial date has not yet been set.
Families of Victims React
Rise Up for Life and for Rights, which represents families of victims of drug-related killings, said relatives were elated by the court's decision. "We have long waited for this moment. It's been nearly 10 years since Duterte started implementing his deadly 'war on drugs.' We look forward to seeing him in ICC court," said Nanay Llore, whose sons were killed in May 2017.
Ritz Lee Santos, director of Amnesty International in the Philippines, described the decision as a "historic moment for victims and international justice."
Duterte's Health and Legal Challenges
It is unclear whether Duterte will attend the trial. He did not appear at pre-trial hearings in February, citing his age and frailty. His defense team argues he is unfit to stand trial due to cognitive decline. His lawyers also challenged the court's jurisdiction, a claim that was rejected.
The prosecution accused Duterte of being "at the very heart" of brutal anti-drug campaigns launched during his time as mayor and president. They argued that he wielded "ultimate influence and authority" over perpetrators, authorizing murders, selecting targets, promising immunity, and providing financial support.
Prosecution's Evidence
"He ran a death squad in Davao that he created. He ran it for over 20 years before he became president. His promise was to kill thousands and he did," said Julian Nicholls, summing up for the prosecution. The prosecution quoted Duterte's speeches that appeared to incite violence, including a television interview where he said: "If I become president, you will all get wiped out. I will order your execution within 24 hours."
As many as 30,000 civilians were killed in connection with drug operations, according to past estimates cited by the ICC prosecutor. Many were men in poor urban areas shot dead in the streets or their homes. Philippine national police reported more than 6,000 deaths related to anti-drugs operations.
Defense's Response
Duterte's defense lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, argued that Duterte's speeches were full of "hyperbole, bluster and rhetoric" and should not be judged on "vulgar language." In a statement to AFP, Kaufman said the idea that people were killed as a "state policy" would be proven a "complete fiction" during trial. "The defense will also show that the evidence of criminal witnesses has zero weight," he added.
