ICC indicts former Philippine President Duterte for 'Crimes Against Humanity'

"Involved in 76 killings during 'War on Drugs' campaign"

Former Philippine President Duterte attended the ICC via video conference from detention in March. [Reuters=Yonhap News Agency file photo]  

The International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (80), who is currently held in an ICC detention facility, on charges of crimes against humanity on the 22nd (local time).

According to the BBC and AFP, former President Duterte was indicted by the ICC on charges of involvement in at least 76 killings during his tenure in the "War on Drugs" campaign.

Former President Duterte faces charges related to 19 killings that occurred between 2013 and 2016 when he served as mayor of Davao in the southern Philippines, and the murders of 14 criminals related to drug trafficking during his presidency in 2016 and 2017.

He is also facing charges related to 43 killings committed during "cleansing" operations against drug users and traffickers.

ICC prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang stated that these killings were carried out by others, such as the police, and that former President Duterte was an "indirect co-perpetrator."

The ICC prosecution stated that former President Duterte and other co-perpetrators "shared a common plan or agreement to neutralize suspected perpetrators of crimes, including those perceived or suspected of being involved in drug use, trafficking, and production in the Philippines, through violent crimes such as murder."

Former President Duterte launched anti-drug operations as mayor of Davao City and expanded them nationwide after taking office as president in 2016.

During this process, the Philippine government reported that approximately 6,200 suspects died, as police were authorized to open fire if drug users or dealers did not surrender immediately.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for former President Duterte through Interpol, and it was executed with the cooperation of the Philippine government in March, leading to his arrest.

He was extradited to The Hague, Netherlands, where he is currently held in an ICC detention facility. Before his arrest, he defended the "War on Drugs" he spearheaded.

The indictment against former President Duterte was drawn up on July 4th but was belatedly released today.

Initially, former President Duterte was scheduled to appear before the ICC tribunal on the 23rd, but the proceedings were reportedly postponed due to his health condition.

His lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, argued that former President Duterte is "suffering from cognitive impairment in multiple areas" and is therefore unfit to stand trial, demanding an indefinite postponement of legal proceedings. Yonhap News