ICC confirms charges against Rodrigo Duterte, commits ex-President to trial

The International Criminal Court on Thursday confirmed the charges of crimes against humanity against former President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the killings in his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and when he was President.

In a 50-page document, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I committed Duterte to face trial on the charges as confirmed, and ordered the court registrar to transmit the decision confirmation of charges and the record of these proceedings.

The confirmed charges include the following:

• Count 1: Murder as a crime against humanity in Davao City during the Mayoral period of at least the 19 victims of Incidents 1 to 9, between 2013 and around June 2016, pursuant to articles 7(1)(a) and 25(3)(a) (indirect co-perpetration) and/or 25(3)(b) (ordering and/or inducing) and/or 25(3)(c) (aiding and abetting);
• Count 2: Murder as a crime against humanity of ‘High-Value Targets’ in locations across the Philippines during the Presidential period of at least the 14 victims of Incidents 10 to 14, between around July 2016 and July 2017, pursuant to articles 7(1)(a) and 25(3)(a) (indirect co-perpetration) and/or 25(3)(b) (ordering and/or inducing)
• and/or 25(3)(c) (aiding and abetting);
• Count 3: Murder and attempted murder as crimes against humanity in barangay clearance operations in locations across the Philippines during the Presidential period of at least the 45 victims (43 murders and two attempted murders) of Incidents 15 to 49, between around July 2016 and September 2018, pursuant to articles 7(1)(a) and/or 25(3)(f) and 25(3)(a) (indirect co-perpetration) and/or 25(3)(b) (ordering and/or inducing) and/or 25(3)(c) (aiding and abetting

The decision was signed by Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc, Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini Gansou, and Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera. 

In February, the pre-trial chamber concluded Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing for crimes against humanity for murder and attempted murder over alleged killings during his time as Davao mayor and president. –NB, GMA News