Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will stand trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) after judges unanimously found sufficient grounds to believe he is responsible for crimes against humanity related to his controversial “war on drugs.” This crackdown, which began in 2016, allegedly involved widespread and systematic attacks that resulted in thousands of civilian deaths during his presidency and earlier as Davao’s mayor.
Duterte, now 80 and arrested in Manila last year, denies the charges, which include murder and attempted murder. Families of the victims expressed joy over the court’s decision, with some calling it a long-awaited moment for justice. Amnesty International hailed the ruling as historic.
A trial date has yet to be set, and it is unclear if Duterte will attend, as he missed a February pretrial hearing due to health concerns. His lawyers argue he is unfit to stand trial due to cognitive decline and have challenged the court’s jurisdiction, claims that were rejected.
Prosecutors have labeled Duterte a “key player” in the violent anti-drug campaign, alleging he authorized killings and provided support to perpetrators. They noted his inflammatory speeches, which appeared to incite violence. While the ICC has cited estimates of around 30,000 killings linked to the drug operations, the Philippine National Police reports over 6,000 deaths attributed to anti-drug efforts.
Duterte’s lawyer contends that the accusations of state-sanctioned killings will be proven as a fabrication during the trial.
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