The Daily Populous Tuesday September 23rd, 2025 day edition
Authored by bbc.com and submitted by thebelsnickle1991

ICC charges Rodrigo Duterte with crimes against humanity

17 hours ago Share Save Natasha Preskey Share Save

Getty Images Duterte said he cracked down on drug dealers to rid the country of street crimes

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 said Duterte was an "indirect co-perpetrator" in the killings, which the court alleges were carried out by others, including police.

The first count laid 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 times when he was serving as president of the Philippines, between 2016 and 2022, and launched his so-called war on drugs. The second count relates to the murders of 14 "high-value targets" across the country, while the third relates to the murder and attempted murder of 45 people in village clearance operations. Prosecutors referred to how Mr Duterte and his alleged co-perpetrators "shared a common plan or agreement to 'neutralise' alleged criminals in the Philippines (including those perceived or alleged to be associated with drug use, sale or production) through violent crimes including murder". He has offered no apologies for his brutal anti-drugs crackdown, which saw more than 6,000 people killed - although activists believe the real figure could run into the tens of thousands. Mr Duterte said he cracked down on drug dealers to rid the country of street crimes.

What we know about Duterte's ICC arrest warrant... in 92 seconds

hrydaya on September 23rd, 2025 at 08:39 UTC »

Will any US president be ever charged similarly? Of course not, that's what the Invade Hague Act is for.

> The Hague Invasion Act is the informal name for the American Service-Members' Protection Act (ASPA), a 2002 U.S. federal law that provides for sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) and authorizes the use of "all means necessary" to free U.S. or allied personnel detained by the court. Its controversial language, which includes the authorization of an invasion of the Netherlands to free detained personnel, makes it illegal under international law and violates U.S. treaty obligations.

acherlyte on September 23rd, 2025 at 07:50 UTC »

Well deserved

Routine-Opinion1471 on September 23rd, 2025 at 05:24 UTC »

The International Criminal Court should be renamed The International Court of Criminals