Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has been formally charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his brutal anti-drugs campaign. The 80-year-old leader stands accused of being responsible for dozens of murders carried out during his time as both mayor of Davao City and later as president of the Philippines.
The ICC charge sheet, partially redacted and dated July, was made public on Monday. Prosecutors allege Duterte acted as an “indirect co-perpetrator” of killings carried out by police and other actors under his leadership.
The first charge concerns the murder of 19 people in Davao City between 2013 and 2016, during Duterte’s tenure as mayor. Two additional charges relate to his presidency from 2016 to 2022, when his infamous war on drugs intensified. These include the killings of 14 “high-value targets” nationwide and the murder or attempted murder of 45 people during so-called village clearance operations.
According to ICC deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, Duterte and his allies shared a “common plan” to neutralize suspected criminals through violent means, including murder. While official figures suggest over 6,000 deaths during the crackdown, human rights groups believe the toll could be in the tens of thousands.
Despite international criticism, Duterte has consistently defended his campaign, saying it was necessary to rid the country of street crime and drug abuse. He remains unrepentant, insisting the crackdown targeted criminals, not innocent citizens.
Duterte is the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC and the first suspect in three years to be flown to The Hague in the Netherlands, where the court is based. He has been in custody there since March, though his lawyers argue poor health prevents him from standing trial.
The development has sparked political controversy in Manila, with Duterte’s supporters accusing current president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of using the ICC as a political weapon against the Duterte family.
