ICC HOLDS DUTERTE, POLICE OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

The International Criminal Court released a charge sheet naming former President Rodrigo Duterte as the main suspect in a nationwide campaign that human rights groups say killed up to 30,000 people, alongside eight co-perpetrators, including high-ranking police and government officials. The ICC detailed a “national network” in which police officers were incentivized with cash and promotions to kill alleged “high-value targets” and plant evidence to justify extrajudicial killings. The court emphasized that claiming to be “just following orders” does not shield officers from accountability, extending responsibility across the chain of command. This marks a watershed moment in Philippine justice, challenging a long-standing culture of impunity and signaling that unlawful acts sanctioned by the state carry real consequences. Experts note the decision could pressure the Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to pursue law enforcement reforms that uphold constitutional rights and the rule of law.