International Criminal Court prosecutors told judges Monday that former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte personally authorized killings and selected some of the victims in his anti-drug campaign, as confirmation of charges hearings began in The Hague.
Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang said the proceedings serve as “a reminder that those in power are not above the law,” Agence France-Presse reported.
Judges are weighing whether to confirm three counts of crimes against humanity and proceed to trial. Duterte, 80, did not appear in court after judges granted a defense request for his absence, despite ruling he was fit to participate. The panel has 60 days to issue a written decision.
Niang said Duterte played a “pivotal” role in extrajudicial killings, first as mayor of Davao City and later as president. He “authorised murders and personally selected some of the victims,” Niang told the court.
Prosecutor Julian Nicholls said: “The evidence shows… that Mr Duterte murdered thousands of his own people, Filipino men, women, and children.”
Presenting video clips of Duterte’s public speeches, Nicholls added: “He repeatedly promised to kill people. He said it. He did it. That is who he is.”
The charges cover at least 76 killings between 2013 and 2018: 19 in Davao City, 14 involving so-called “High Value Targets” during his presidency, and 43 during nationwide “clearance” operations against alleged lower-level drug suspects.
Prosecutors described the cases as “merely a fraction” of the total deaths.
Defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman called the accusations “grievously misplaced and politically motivated.” He said Duterte “stands behind his legacy resolutely. He maintains his innocence absolutely.”
Kaufman accused prosecutors of “cherry-picking” speeches and ignoring statements emphasizing adherence to the law.
Outside the court, rival demonstrators gathered. Patricia Enriquez, a researcher, called the hearing “historic.”
“It is emotional. It is hopeful. It is also very painful,” she said. “I’m hoping that all the Filipinos and everybody in the world will stand with us, stand with truth, stand with justice and stand with accountability.”
Families of victims criticized the defense.
“Walang ibang sinabi si Kaufman kundi itanggi ang krimen ni Duterte pero wala namang naipresentang ebidensya para ipagtanggol ang kanyang amo,” said Llore Pasco, whose two sons were killed in police operations.
(All he could say was to deny Duterte’s crimes but he failed to present any evidence to defend his boss.)
“The media and human rights groups did not invent stories about how our loved ones were killed,” said Sheerah Escudero. “Yes, our narrative is sacred and unchallengeable because it is the unshakable truth.”
Duterte, president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested in Manila last year and transferred to ICC custody in the Netherlands.
