North South Jorunal news team 
The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I have ruled that there are reasonable grounds to believe former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is criminally responsible under Article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute.
He is accused as a direct co-perpetrator of crimes against humanity, specifically murder under Article 7(1)(a).
Details of the Charges
The charges against Duterte stem from two key allegations:
Murder of at least 19 individuals – Alleged drug pushers or thieves, killed by the Davao Death Squad between 2011 and 2016 in Davao City, Philippines.
Murderer of at least 24 individuals – Alleged criminals, including drug pushers, thieves, and drug users, killed by or under the supervision of Philippine law enforcement.
Some killings were carried out with assistance from non-police individuals in various locations across the Philippines between 2016 and 2019.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The ICC will now schedule a confirmation of charges hearing, where the evidence will be examined to determine if the case proceeds to trial.
If confirmed, Duterte will face trial for crimes against humanity about his controversial war on drugs.
The prosecution has alleged that Duterte played a key role in these extrajudicial killings, either directly or through state forces.
His legal team is expected to challenge the charges, maintaining that his actions were part of a legitimate law enforcement strategy.
A final decision on whether the case will go to trial is expected in the coming months.
