Duterte Accused by International Criminal Court of Killing 76 People

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is accused of having a plan to neutralize drug dealers and other criminals between 2011 and 2019.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech during the proclamation rally for his political party PDP-Laban's senatorial candidates ahead of the midterm elections, at Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Feb. 13, 2025. Eloisa Lopez/Reuters

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Sept. 22 published details of the charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, which include allegations that he was involved in the extrajudicial killing of 76 people.

The 15-page charge sheet document says the alleged crimes related to his presidential term, from 2016 to 2022, and an earlier period when he was mayor of Davao City in the southern Philippines.

In March, Duterte, who is now 80, was taken into custody in the Netherlands after being arrested on an ICC warrant in Manila. He is currently being held at a secure ICC facility in the Netherlands.

The charges were submitted to the court on July 4 and made public on Sept. 22.

A court hearing in The Hague was scheduled for Sept. 23 but was postponed to give the judges time to evaluate Duterte’s attorneys’ claim that he is not fit to stand trial.

The document states, “At least between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019, DUTERTE and his coperpetrators 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.”

‘Clearance Operations’

The first charge in the document alleges that 19 victims were killed when Duterte was mayor of Davao City between 2013 and 2016.

The second involves 14 people who died in targeted killings between 2016 and 2017 when Duterte was president. The third cites the killings of 43 people during “clearance operations” between 2016 and 2018.

The ICC prosecutors allege Duterte instructed and authorized “violent acts including murder to be committed against alleged criminals, including alleged drug dealers and users.”

Duterte has always denied authorizing extrajudicial killings, although he often encouraged police to open fire if suspects violently resisted arrest.

The document states that as mayor of Davao City, Duterte “sat at the apex of the formal police and city structures,” with legal control over everyone.

It says at the bottom of the pyramid were “DDS [Davao Death Squad] members who physically carried out the crimes (generally non-police hitmen or low-level police).”

The document states that it had become state policy to neutralize violent criminals and drug dealers.

Policy ‘Expanded’ to National Level

“The policy was originally developed by Duterte and his close (mostly police) associates in Davao City and implemented at the local level, and then expanded to the national level in 2016,” the document states.

There has been no public comment from Duterte, his lawyer, or family since the charges were made public.

The Epoch Times contacted Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, for comment, but did not receive a response by publication time.

In January 2023, the ICC granted its prosecutor’s request to reopen a probe into the killings.

Duterte’s supporters in the Philippines have criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for arresting him and handing him over to a court whose jurisdiction they do not recognize.

In February 2025, Duterte’s daughter, Sara, who was vice president, was impeached for allegedly violating the constitution, betraying public trust, corruption, and other high crimes, but in July the Supreme Court declared the articles of impeachment unconstitutional.

The president and vice president are elected separately in the Philippines, which can result in politicians with different agendas occupying these positions.

In May 2023, Sara Duterte resigned from the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) Party after what she called “execrable political powerplay.”

She has accused Marcos Jr., his wife, and Martin Romualdez—who is also the president of Lakas-CMD—of weak leadership, corruption, and attempting to muzzle her.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.