Former Leader of the Philippines Faces Accusations of Human Rights Violations
The previous head of state for the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has recently faced charges by a prominent international legal body for his alleged involvement in three separate crimes against humanity. These charges stem from his purported role in the deaths of no less than 76 individuals during his notorious "war on drugs".
Accusations and Detainment of the Ex-President
This octogenarian former leader is currently held in a detention facility in Europe. Official documents released recently outline the nature of the charges against him. These documents detail the accusations of his involvement in the fatal violence carried out during his anti-narcotics campaign while he was in office.
Details of the Charges
The charges are detailed in a heavily edited legal document, signed by the deputy prosecutor of the court. This document outlines what the prosecution believes to be Duterte's individual criminal role in numerous deaths that took place during a five-year span from 2013 to 2018.
The Three Counts
The initial count relates to his tenure as mayor of a major city in the Philippines, Davao City. During this time, he is accused of being an "indirect co-conspirator" in 19 separate murders that took place from 2013 to 2016. The following two counts are tied to his time as president.
The second count is connected to the killings of 14 "high-value" targets in the years 2016 and 2017. The last count pertains to the 43 murders that were committed during "clearance" operations against alleged lower-level criminals from 2016 to 2018.
It is important to note that the 76 murders were reportedly executed by both law enforcement officers and non-governmental actors, such as hired killers, as per the information in the legal document.
Legal Proceedings and Duterte's Health
The release of these charges was publicized a few weeks following a court's decision to postpone Duterte's scheduled hearing at the court. This decision was made because the court must first determine whether the former president is medically fit to stand trial. This comes after Duterte's lawyer suggested that his trial be delayed indefinitely due to his declining health.
His lawyer has expressed concerns that Duterte is dealing with "cognitive impairment in multiple domains".
Arrest and Unlawful Detention Claims
Duterte was taken into custody in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and promptly transported to Europe where he remains in detention. The former president, despite his current circumstances, continues to insist that his arrest was unlawful.
Political Allegations Surrounding the Detention
Supporters of Duterte in the Philippines believe that his detainment is politically motivated and a consequence of a feud with the current head of state, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.