3 counts of crimes: Breaking down the ICC's charges against Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — Detained former President Rodrigo Duterte has been charged by prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC) with crimes against humanity over killings in Davao and nationwide during his presidency.
Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang filed a 15-page document charging Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity of murder, covering incidents from 2013 to 2018.
Prosecutors said at least 76 murders and other violent crimes are included in the filing but noted the actual scale of victimization was significantly greater.
"The Prosecution charges the murders and attempted murders below, although the actual scale of victimisation during the charged period was significantly greater, as reflected in the widespread nature of the attack,” the prosecution said.
Niang said Duterte was criminally liable for the following:
Count 1: Davao Death Squad killings
The first charge concerns killings in and around Davao City during Duterte’s time as mayor and alleged head of the Davao Death Squad (DDS) from 2013 to 2016.
Covers 19 victims across nine incidents.
The victims were alleged drug pushers and thieves.
During this period, the prosecution said that the attack was primarily concentrated in Davao City, carried out predominantly by city police and non-police hitmen comprising the DDS.
Count 2: High-value targets during presidency
The second charge involves killings of alleged high-value drug suspects during Duterte’s first year as president, from 2016 to 2017.
Covers 14 victims across five incidents.
Victims were labeled as “high-value targets,” often for alleged involvement in drug manufacturing or syndicates, and some were listed on the “PRRD List.”
Police allegedly accessed a covert reward system ranging from P50,000 to P1 million per target.
Count 3: Barangay clearance operations
The third charge involves killings and attempted killings during barangay anti-drug operations when Duterte was president from 2016 to 2018.
Covers 45 victims, specifically 43 murders, and attempted murders in 45 incidents.
Victims were alleged lower-level criminals, including drug users and small-time pushers
Perpetrators were members of a “national network” of police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency officers, and non-police hitmen.
Status of the case
The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber postponed the confirmation of charges hearing after Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, said on Sept. 9 that the former president’s medical condition was “progressively deteriorating” and that he was “not fit to stand trial.”
Duterte’s anti-drug campaign left a government-reported death toll of 6,000. Human rights groups, however, estimate the real number of killings at up to 30,000, many of them small-time drug suspects.
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