MANILA — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally charged former Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte with crimes against humanity over thousands of killings linked to the so-called “war on drugs” and earlier operations in Davao City.

In a public redacted version of the document September 22, The Hague time, the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor accused Duterte of bearing individual criminal responsibility for murders and attempted murders committed between November 2011 and March 2019

Prosecutors said Duterte, as Davao City mayor and later as president, shared a “common plan” with police and other state actors to “neutralize” suspected criminals and drug offenders through violent crimes, including murder.

The ICC detailed three counts:

• Count 1: Murders in or around Davao City during Duterte’s mayoral term, with at least 19 victims between 2013 and 2016.
• Count 2: Murders of “high-value targets” across the country in 2016-2017, with at least 14 victims.
• Count 3: Murders and attempted murders during barangay clearance operations nationwide from 2016 to 2018, involving 45 victims.

The prosecution alleged Duterte directly or indirectly ordered, induced, aided, or abetted killings carried out by the so-called Davao Death Squad and later by a national network of police, drug enforcement agents, and hired gunmen.

The document stressed that the killings formed part of a widespread and systematic attack against civilians, carried out under state policy during Duterte’s presidency.

Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, has repeatedly denied ordering extrajudicial killings and has rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction.

The case is now before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC, which will decide whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.