Prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague have sued the former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, for crimes against humanity. Duterte is accused of involvement in at least 76 murders during his ruthless violence against drug dealers and users in his ‘war’ against drugs. This is apparent from the reciprocal From July, which was made public on Monday.
The 80-year-old Duterte has been stuck in Scheveningen since March. The ICC examines the mass murders during Duterte’s so -called ‘war against drugs’. From prison he was elected mayor of Davao City in May, a position currently held by his son Sebastian, in the role of acting mayor.
Specifically, Duterte involvement is blamed for nineteen murders between 2013 and 2016 in his period as mayor of Davao City. A second indictment is about fourteen murders in 2016 and 2017, when Duterte was president.
A third charge concerns 43 murders committed during “cleaning operations” of alleged less important drug users or dealers between 2016 and 2018. Human rights organizations estimate the death of the Tole during Dutertes presidency on many thousands, mainly small drug dealers and users who were murdered without any form of process.
Duterte, the first former Asian head of state that has been sued by the ICC, could not stand trial because of his brittle health. In his country, the former president is still unabatedly popular: supporters of Duterte say that ICC can be used politically by current President Ferdinand Marcos, an opponent of Duterte.
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