The International Criminal Court heard explosive testimony Tuesday alleging former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte personally compiled execution lists and openly boasted about murders committed during his violent anti-drug campaign. ICC prosecutor Edward Jeremy presented chilling evidence claiming children had been killed with packing tape and that Duterte specifically targeted impoverished citizens who were least likely to report police abuses.
Jeremy played video evidence showing Duterte declaring himself “the sole person responsible” for the drug war’s consequences. The prosecutor described how Duterte joked about extrajudicial killings before laughing officials in “opulent, gilded presentation rooms” while bodies piled up on Philippine streets. At the time of one such speech, Jeremy alleged nearly 1,500 people had already been killed.
The 80-year-old former president exercised his right not to attend the proceedings, with his defense citing cognitive decline and health issues—claims challenged by prosecutors and victims’ families who maintain he is avoiding confrontation. The week-long hearing represents a critical ‘confirmation of charges’ phase where judges will determine whether evidence warrants a full trial for crimes against humanity.
Duterte faces three ICC counts related to at least 76 specific murders between 2013-2018, though prosecutors emphasize this represents merely a fraction of the thousands killed during his tenure as Davao City mayor and later national president. Defense attorney Nicholas Kaufman maintained his client’s complete innocence, arguing Duterte’s inflammatory rhetoric was mere “bluster and hyperbole” that consistently included orders to only shoot in self-defense.
The court will deliberate for up to 60 days following Friday’s conclusion of proceedings before deciding whether to advance to a full criminal trial.