Khaberni - Judges of the International Criminal Court, on Thursday, confirmed the charges of committing crimes against humanity against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (80 years old), in connection with the bloody anti-drug campaigns he oversaw during his rule.
A panel of three judges in The Hague stated there were "substantial reasons" to believe that Duterte was responsible for dozens of murders, both during his tenure as mayor of Davao City in the southern Philippines, and later during his presidency.
Duterte was arrested last year in the Philippines, and he has denied the charges against him.
A 50-page ruling indicated that the evidence suggests Duterte "created, promoted, and implemented" a policy aimed at "neutralizing" those suspected of crimes.
According to the prosecution, police officers and members of assassination squads carried out killings under his instructions, motivated by either financial gain or fear of becoming targets themselves.
Deputy Attorney General Mami Mandiaye Niang said during the hearing sessions in February/Feb, that some of the killings reached a "depraved level of rivalry," without specifying an official date for the trial to begin.
Estimates on the number of deaths during Duterte's presidency vary, with the national police announcing that the number exceeded 6,000, while human rights organizations claim it reaches up to 30,000. Families of the victims welcomed Duterte's arrest in March/March last year.
