(The Hague, 1st) — The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague has severely accused former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte of killing thousands of Philippine nationals during his administration, and claims that he took pride in it.
The pre-trial hearing regarding Duterte's alleged crimes against humanity concluded on Friday (February 27). A panel of three judges will now enter the deliberation stage and issue a written ruling within 60 days to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to fully indict Duterte.
Prosecutor Nichols stated in the closing argument: “He is proud of his killings. He wants to be remembered for it... For decades, he killed his fellow citizens and Filipino children, yet claimed all this was for the country. He has not denied it... He established a death squad in Davao City, and before becoming president, controlled this squad for more than 20 years. He repeatedly said he would get rid of thousands, and he indeed did so.”
Duterte is accused of three counts of crimes against humanity. The charges allege that during his tenure as Davao City mayor and president from 2013 to 2018, he launched an anti-drug campaign involving extrajudicial executions of drug dealers and drug users, which includes at least 76 murder cases. Human rights organizations have stated that the actual death toll of the anti-drug campaign numbers in the thousands.
The Philippine Star reported that Duterte’s defense lawyer Kaufman, in his closing argument, criticized the prosecution for lacking substantive evidence. He said the accusations were merely speculative, based solely on witness testimonies and Duterte’s own exaggerated statements in past speeches.
Kaufman emphasized that Duterte has never killed anyone. He reiterated that Duterte was not directly connected to the murders mentioned in the charges and also refuted the prosecution’s accusation that police reports during the anti-drug campaign were fabricated.
Duterte, who is currently being held in the ICC detention facility, was exempted from appearing at the hearing. The judges had earlier ruled that the 80-year-old Duterte was physically fit for legal proceedings, but his legal team’s request to exempt him from court attendance was approved by the court.
Prosecutor Nichols stated in the closing argument: “He is proud of his killings. He wants to be remembered for it... For decades, he killed his fellow citizens and Filipino children, yet claimed all this was for the country. He has not denied it... He established a death squad in Davao City, and before becoming president, controlled this squad for more than 20 years. He repeatedly said he would get rid of thousands, and he indeed did so.”
Duterte is accused of three counts of crimes against humanity. The charges allege that during his tenure as Davao City mayor and president from 2013 to 2018, he launched an anti-drug campaign involving extrajudicial executions of drug dealers and drug users, which includes at least 76 murder cases. Human rights organizations have stated that the actual death toll of the anti-drug campaign numbers in the thousands.
The Philippine Star reported that Duterte’s defense lawyer Kaufman, in his closing argument, criticized the prosecution for lacking substantive evidence. He said the accusations were merely speculative, based solely on witness testimonies and Duterte’s own exaggerated statements in past speeches.
Kaufman emphasized that Duterte has never killed anyone. He reiterated that Duterte was not directly connected to the murders mentioned in the charges and also refuted the prosecution’s accusation that police reports during the anti-drug campaign were fabricated.
Duterte, who is currently being held in the ICC detention facility, was exempted from appearing at the hearing. The judges had earlier ruled that the 80-year-old Duterte was physically fit for legal proceedings, but his legal team’s request to exempt him from court attendance was approved by the court.