The commencement of the confirmation of charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte is a reminder that those in seats of power are still accountable before the law, International Criminal Court (ICC) Deputy Prosecutor Mandiaye Niang said on Monday.
“Today marks an important day for international justice for the people of the Philippines, for the victims, and for this court… It is also a reminder that those in power are now above the law,” he said, beginning the Prosecution’s opening statements.
He provided an overview of the Prosecution’s evidence against Duterte, who is charged with 49 incidents of murder and attempted murder, with 78 victims—including children.
“Mr. Duterte played a pivotal role in the commission of the charged crime. His contributions were essential as he was at the very heart at the common plan—to use his words—to ‘neutralize’ alleged criminals in the Philippines, including through murder. The victims included individuals associated with or perceived to be associated with drugs,” Niang said.
Among the evidence recounted was that, back in 1988, upon becoming mayor of Davao City, Duterte formed the infamous Davao Death Squad. He allegedly personally gave them the mandate to kill criminals and suspected criminals such as drug users and dealers.
“Mr. Duterte’s criminal plan and his intent were no secret. He not only shared them with his co-perpetrators and members of the death squad but also made them abundantly clear to the general public, in the numerous public statements that he made time and again,” Niang explained before the court.
During his presidential campaign, Duterte explicitly declared that he would implement this same program if he won, recalled the deputy prosecutor.
“I quote, ‘If I become the president, I will order the military and the police to hunt down the drug lords. The big ones, and kill them.’ That’s what he said,” he said.
“In a televised interview in 2015, this is again what he said: ‘If I become president, you will all get wiped out. I will order your execution within 24 hours.’ That’s what he said, I quote directly from his words,” he added.
Duterte is being held in The Hague, Netherlands due to alleged crimes against humanity, of murder and attempted murder committed between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019, in relation to the War on Drugs.
