Rodrigo Duterte faces allegations of being an ‘indirect co-perpetrator’ in the killings of numerous suspected criminals.
Published On 23 Sep 2025
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally charged former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity, accusing him of involvement in the deaths of at least 76 individuals amid his controversial anti-drug campaign.
Since March, the 80-year-old ex-leader has been detained in the Netherlands, with the ICC releasing the detailed charges against him this Monday.
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The allegations stem from Duterte’s aggressive crackdown on narcotics during his presidency, a campaign that led to the deaths of thousands of suspected drug dealers and users.
The ICC’s indictment, heavily censored for confidentiality and dated early July, was signed by Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang. It outlines Duterte’s personal criminal liability for numerous killings occurring between 2013 and 2018.
One charge pertains to his tenure as mayor of Davao City, where he is accused of being an “indirect co-perpetrator” in 19 homicides from 2013 to 2016.
The remaining two charges relate to his presidential years: the first involves the deaths of 14 so-called “high-value” targets in 2016 and 2017, while the second concerns 43 killings during “clearance” operations targeting lower-level suspects between 2016 and 2018.
According to the ICC, these 76 murders were executed not only by police forces but also by non-governmental actors, including hired assassins.
The announcement of these charges follows a recent postponement of Duterte’s scheduled ICC hearing, initially set for later this month.
Before proceeding, the court must evaluate whether Duterte is medically and mentally capable of standing trial, after his attorney, Nicholas Kaufman, requested an indefinite delay citing the former president’s declining health.
Kaufman has reported that Duterte is experiencing “cognitive impairments across multiple areas.”
Duterte was apprehended in Manila on March 11 and quickly transferred to ICC custody in the Netherlands. He maintains that his arrest was illegal.
Supporters of Duterte in the Philippines argue that his detention is politically motivated, linked to tensions between his family and the current Philippine President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
