Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyers request ICC to refile charges

Defense lawyers for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte have filed a motion with the International Criminal Court (ICC) requesting that prosecutors refile the charges against him. The defense argues that the current document containing the charges (DCC) is “not fit for purpose” and violates Duterte’s right to be informed of the specific nature, cause, and content of the allegations.

Lead counsel Peter Haynes contends that the prosecution’s approach is unprecedented. Instead of providing a clear set of facts and separate counts, the DCC organizes charges around “illustrative non-exhaustive incidents” grouped under topical headings. The defense claims this format makes it impossible for Duterte to understand the detailed nature of the case he must meet at trial.

Duterte faces allegations of crimes against humanity related to his administration’s war on illegal drugs. The charges are divided into three clusters: alleged killings in Davao between 2013 and 2016, the killing of high-value targets from 2016 to 2017, and murders and attempted murders tied to barangay operations from 2016 to 2018. While government records cite at least 6,000 deaths during the campaign, human rights groups report figures exceeding 30,000.