MANILA, Philippines —The International Criminal Court (ICC) heard detailed allegations on Monday linking former president Rodrigo Duterte to a series of killings carried out by the Davao Death Squad (DDS) during his time as mayor of Davao City.
Count one of the charges presented to the court covers nine murder incidents in and around Davao, resulting in 19 victims, including three children. ICC prosecutor Julian Nicholls highlighted one case in the Agdao district on December 4, 2013, as a striking example of the alleged operations.
According to witness accounts, three alleged thieves were shot and killed by DDS hitmen, who reported back to Duterte’s trusted aide, Sonny Buenaventura, after completing the killings. Nicholls said the perpetrators received a total reward of P90,000 for the murders.
The court was shown CCTV footage reportedly capturing Duterte observing the killings, which was later posted online. The video allegedly showed DDS members committing the killings openly and leaving the scene without fear, emphasizing prosecutors’ claim that the killings were carried out with official approval and protection.
The prosecution is expected to present additional incidents and evidence linking Duterte to extrajudicial killings on Tuesday, February 24.