Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has been charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The 80-year-old is accused of being criminally responsible for dozens of murders that allegedly took place as part of his so-called war on drugs, during which thousands of small-time drug dealers, users, and others were killed without trial.
The ICC's charge sheet, which includes several redactions, dates from July but was only made public on Monday.
ICC deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang stated that Duterte was an 'indirect co-perpetrator' in the killings, which the court alleges were carried out by others, including police.
The first count against Mr. Duterte concerns his alleged involvement in the killings of 19 people in Davao City between 2013 and 2016 while he was mayor there.
The other two charges relate to his presidency between 2016 and 2022, which saw the unfolding of his notorious war on drugs.
The second count involves the murders of 14 'high-value targets' across the nation, while a third count points to the murder and attempted murder of 45 people in village clearance operations.
Prosecutors indicated that Mr. Duterte and his co-perpetrators 'shared a common plan or agreement to "neutralize" alleged criminals in the Philippines through violent acts, including murder.'
Despite facing these serious allegations, Mr. Duterte has not expressed remorse for his administration's harsh anti-drug measures, which reportedly resulted in more than 6,000 deaths, although activists argue the actual figure could be much higher.
Duterte is the first Asian former head of state to face indictment from the ICC and is currently in custody in The Hague, Netherlands, since March. His legal representation has claimed that he is not fit to stand trial due to poor health.
Despite his incarceration, Duterte was re-elected as mayor of Davao in May, with his son Sebastian continuing to serve as acting mayor. Supporters argue that the ICC's actions reflect political motivations from the current administration, suggesting that the ICC is being utilized as a tool against the Duterte family.
