ICC prosecutors charge Duterte with 3 counts of murder

A “national network” composed of law enforcers, non-police assets and hitmen were formed during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte to implement a common plan to “neutralize” alleged criminals across the country, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) formally alleged before the tribunal.

- BY JANVIC MATEO

The ICC Office of the Prosecutor released Monday night the public redacted version of the document containing the charges against Duterte, which was originally filed on July 4.

In the document, Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang said Duterte was liable for a widespread attack on the civilian population in the Philippines, both during his time as mayor or vice mayor in Davao City and as the country’s president.

He was charged with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity, covering at least 49 incidents related to the Davao death squad (DDS) and the larger anti-illegal drug campaign during his presidency.

It established how Duterte, when he was either mayor or vice mayor of Davao, used the DDS to kill alleged criminals.

The prosecutor alleged that the approval of Duterte was supposedly required for DDS members to conduct killings in Davao City.

“Duterte and his co-perpetrators used the DDS, including its low-level members, as tools to commit the crimes encompassed by the common plan,” the document read, referring to the agreement to “neutralize” alleged criminals through violent crimes such as murder.

“Those who did not follow orders risked being killed and were disposed of when perceived as opposing or posing a threat to the common plan, however insignificant... The co-perpetrators recruited individuals they could trust and control for the DDS, with Duterte personally inducting some DDS hitmen,” it added.

‘National network’