Fit or not, Rodrigo Roa Duterte should stand trial.
The formal charges of three counts of murder against Duterte, which the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor released yesterday, provide strong basis to hold him accountable.
According to the ICC document, Duterte is criminally responsible for murder as a crime against humanity during his time as mayor of Davao City and president of the Philippines. While the document cites only 49 incidents and 78 victims—a fraction of the tens of thousands documented by human rights groups in the “war on drugs”—this is more than enough to establish a clear pattern of abuse of power and disregard for human life.
Despite the indefinite postponement of the confirmation hearing that was supposed to take place today, the PCFS is hopeful that the process is moving forward and a trial is within reach.
We do not believe the reason given by Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, for the hearing postponement and the request for interim release on humanitarian grounds. When an ordinary Filipino called Duterte crazy for his outrageous pronouncements amid the pandemic, he had them arrested. Ironically, he is now claiming to have a “deteriorating cognitive condition” to technically skirt accountability.
From his brutal “drug war” to the peasant massacres waged under his regime, Duterte does not deserve compassion on humanitarian grounds. He must stay in jail and face the court until a verdict is reached.
Let’s not forget that beyond his “war on drugs,” Duterte’s presidency was marked by the extrajudicial killing of at least 344 peasants and a record 26 peasant massacres—making the Philippines the deadliest country in Asia for peasants. Until Duterte is found guilty, our Coalition will relentlessly demand justice. ###