The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday started its pre-trial hearing on the case of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over his alleged crimes against humanity during his anti-drugs campaign, which killed thousands of Filipinos.
The pre-trial hearing, which will take place over four days, commenced to decide whether Duterte should stand trial on the cases filed against him and if there is sufficient evidence for him to be tried before the international court.
The 80-year-old former president was not present during the hearing as the court approved his defense’s request to waive his right to appear.
Charges against Duterte
Duterte is facing three counts of crimes against humanity filed by ICC prosecutors, alleging that the former president was involved in at least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018.
The first charge against Duterte centers on his alleged involvement in 19 murders from 2013 to 2016 while he was mayor of Davao City.
From 2016 and 2017, the ICC alleged that Duterte was involved in the murder of 14 so-called “High Value Targets”.
The third case involves 43 murders committed during “clearance” operations of lower-level alleged drug users or pushers between 2016 and 2018, Agence France-Presse reported.
Duterte denies all charges against him.
Official government figures say that about 6,200 suspected drug offenders were killed during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s time in office.
However, human rights groups argue that the real number of people who died in the administration’s anti-drug campaign could be much higher – possibly reaching 30,000.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Netizens stir debate after death of Mexican drug lord “El Mencho”
First day of pre-trial hearing
The hearing, which started at 5pm Manila time, carried a strong message from the International Criminal Court: even someone as powerful as Rodrigo Duterte can be held accountable under the law.
It underscored the idea that no position or authority puts anyone beyond justice.
Prosecutors said the killings were carried out by police officers and members of hit squads who were acting on Duterte’s orders.
In return, they were allegedly paid or spared from becoming targets themselves.
“For some, killing reached the level of a perverse form of competition,” said ICC deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang.
As the hearing progressed, Niang said Duterte had played a central role in the extrajudicial killings of suspected drug users and dealers – first during his time as mayor of Davao City, and later across the country when he became president.
Protests in The Hague and Manila
On the eve of the pre-trial hearing, Filipino migrants gathered outside the ICC to show solidarity to drug war victims, while there were also people there to support Duterte.
From early Monday, protests continued in front of the ICC.
Back home in the Philippines, dozens of activists also staged protests in Manila, while more than 100 relatives of the victims gathered together to watch the pre-trial hearings on big TV screens in three venues organised by civic groups.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: Watchdog flags escalating prison crisis in Argentina
What to expect in the next few days of the hearing
After the four-day hearing wraps up, the judges will have 60 days to release a written decision on whether Duterte should proceed to a full trial.
Once the proceedings conclude, the Pre-Trial Chamber can take one of three steps: it can refuse to confirm the charges, though prosecutors would still be allowed to file a new request if they present additional evidence; it can pause the process and ask prosecutors to submit more evidence, carry out further investigations, or revise the charges; or it can confirm the charges and move the case forward to trial.
The hearings are set to resume on February 24, 26, and 27.
READ NEXT: Timor Leste becomes first ASEAN member state to probe Myanmar junta’s ‘crimes’
Shameeka Voyiya 
Lucia Caporalini 
Kamille Q. Cabreza