By Marlon Magtira

Copyright malaya

The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor accusing former president Rodrigo Duterte of “crimes against humanity” has publicly released the charges, in a document uploaded on its website on Tuesday.

The redacted “Document Containing the Charges” formally accuses Duterte of murder and attempted murder as “crimes against humanity” for his role in a “war on drugs” that allegedly resulted in numerous deaths.

The ICC prosecutor alleges that from November 2011 to March 2019, as Davao City mayor and then as president, Duterte orchestrated a “widespread and systematic attack” against the civilian population.

As Mayor and then Vice-Mayor of Davao City until June 2016, Duterte allegedly led the “Davao Death Squad” (DDS).

The document states he sat “at the apex” of this group, which included police and non-police hitmen, and that his approval was required for killings in the city.

As president starting June 2016, the charges allege Duterte and his associates expanded the campaign nationwide, creating a “national network” of law enforcement officers and hitmen.

The prosecution claims Duterte used his authority to control the will of the physical perpetrators, who were considered “fungible within the apparatus.”

The prosecutor has filed three main counts supported by detailed incidents:

Murders in Davao City between 2013 and 2016: The document lists nine incidents detailing the killings of 19 individuals labeled as alleged drug pushers or thieves by the DDS.

Murders of “High-Value Targets” across the Philippines between 2016 and 2017: The charges reference a “PRRD List” (using Duterte’s initials) with targets categorized by level. The prosecution alleges police could access a covert reward system, receiving payments from 50,000 to one million Philippine pesos for these killings. Five incidents involving 14 victims are cited.

Murders and attempted murders in “barangay clearance operations” across the Philippines from 2016 to 2018. This count details 35 incidents involving 45 victims, described as ‘lower-level’ alleged criminals.

The prosecution charges Duterte under three modes of criminal responsibility.

Primarily, he is accused of being an “indirect co-perpetrator” for designing the policy, establishing the groups, and providing resources and impunity.

He is also charged with “ordering and inducing” the crimes through public statements and direct commands, and with “aiding and abetting” by facilitating and encouraging the killings.

The prosecutor stated that the charged incidents are representative of a much larger pattern, noting “at least hundreds of other murders during the mayoral period [and] thousands of other murders in the presidential period.”

The case, “The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte”, continues before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC.

The former president has consistently denied the allegations and challenged the court’s jurisdiction.