Duterte ‘pivotal’ in mass killings, ICC prosecutors say

WEB DESK: Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte played a central and pivotal role in the murder of thousands during his time in office, prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have alleged, as they urged judges to allow his trial to proceed.

According to Dawn, at the opening of pre-trial hearings in The Hague on Monday, the court heard that Duterte faces three counts of murder as crimes against humanity. These relate to dozens of victims said to represent just a small portion of the total deaths in his aggressive campaign against alleged drug dealers and users.

Prosecutor Mame Niang told the court: “Duterte’s so-called war on drugs led to the killings of thousands of civilians, many of them children.” He added that Mr Duterte “must be held accountable” and that the charges should be confirmed for a full trial.

Under ICC procedures, judges must first confirm there is sufficient evidence before the case can advance to trial proper. Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested in Manila in March 2025 and transferred to the ICC’s detention facility in Scheveningen Prison near The Hague.

Prosecutors claim he established, financed, and armed death squads to target and eliminate suspected narcotics traffickers and addicts. They described his contribution as “essential”, positioning him “at the very heart” of a plan to neutralise alleged criminals, often through murder.

Duterte has consistently maintained that he instructed police to use lethal force only in self-defence, and he has staunchly defended the crackdown.

Another prosecutor, Julian Nicholls, presented video footage of Duterte repeatedly threatening to kill criminals, stating: “He promised to kill people. He said it. He did it. That is who he is.” He asserted that the evidence demonstrated Duterte had “murdered thousands of his own people Filipino men, women, and children.”

Opponents of the former leader gathered outside the court, chanting calls in Tagalog for him to be held accountable. Cristina Palabay, from the human rights group Karapatan, expressed confidence that the murder charges would be confirmed and Duterte’s guilt proven.

The 80-year-old did not attend the hearings, with his defence citing cognitive decline that would prevent him from understanding proceedings. Relatives of victims dismissed this as “cowardice”, insisting he would not evade justice. One victim’s sister, Sheerah Escudero, whose brother was killed in the drug war, said: “We know that Duterte will not be able to escape accountability.” The hearings are scheduled to conclude on Friday, after which judges have up to 60 days to decide whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.

‘High-value targets’

Prosecutors allege Duterte’s direct involvement in at least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018 encompassing his time as mayor of Davao City and as president. They described the charged incidents as “merely a fraction” of the true scale, with estimates of thousands killed overall.

Lawyers for victims argue that a full trial could prompt more families to come forward with evidence.

The case centres on three counts of crimes against humanity, including murders linked to so-called “high-value targets” and operations to clear areas of alleged drug activity.