Former Filipino President Duterte appears in the hearing of the International Criminal Court via a video link

According to the public prosecutor's office, Duterte, as mayor of Davao, granted the police and other “hitmen”, which formed so-called Davao death groups or DDS.

He told them “that their mission consisted of killing criminals, including drug dealers and for certain DDS murders”, the prosecutors claimed and added that he had recruited, paid and rewarded the murderers and provided them with the necessary weapons and resources and promised to protect them from law enforcement. “

In the document that applied for an ICC arrest warrant against Duterte, the prosecutors put their case with evidence such as testimonies, talk about Duterte himself, government documents and video material.

The reaction of legal groups

Human rights groups and families of the victims have welcomed Duterte's arrest as a historical triumph against the impunity of the state, while the supporters of the former president have distributed this, which they describe as the handover of a political rival by the government to a court, the jurisdiction of which they deny.

“We are happy and we feel relieved,” said 55-year-old Melinda Abion Lafuente, mother of 22-year-old Angelo Lafuente, who was tortured and killed in 2016.

“Dutertes appearance before the ICCHH is proof of the courage and determination of the victims, their families and Filipino activists and journalists to pursue justice, no matter how long it takes,” said Bryony Lau, deputy director of Asia at Human Rights Watch. “Other leaders who are confronted with ICC, such as (Russian President) Vladimir Putin and (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu, should note that even those who look untouchable today can land in the Hague.”

Duterte's defense

The legal team of Duterte said that the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should not allow the global court to take custody of the former leader because the Philippines are no longer a party for the ICC.

Medialdea said that “two restless units achieved an unlikely alliance. An incumbent president who wants to neutralize and suffocate my client's legacy and daughter “and” a restless legal institute that is subject to delegitimation “.

Judges who approved Duterte's arrest warrant said that the court was responsible because the crimes prescribed in the arrest warrant were committed before Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the court in 2019.

Jim Gomez, Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila in Manila, Philippines and Ahmad Seir in the Hague contributed to this report.

Originally published: March 14, 2025 at 13:26 PM Edt