00:00It is also a reminder that those in power are not above the law.
00:10Prosecutors at The Hague-based International Criminal Court said on Monday that former
00:14Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was pivotal in the murder of thousands of people during his
00:19rule. The prosecutors have charged Duterte with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity.
00:24It involves dozens of victims that accusers say were only a fraction of the real death toll
00:29in his clampdown on alleged drug users and criminals. Prosecutor Mom Niang said Duterte's
00:34so-called war on drugs resulted in the killings of thousands of civilians and he had to be held
00:39accountable. According to the prosecutors, Duterte created, funded, and armed death squads to target
00:45and kill alleged narcotics peddlers and users. Duterte has long insisted he instructed police
00:51to kill only in self-defense and has always defended the crackdown.
00:54If you destroy my country, I will kill you. Make no doubt about it.
01:00His lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, said the charges had been politically motivated and that the
01:04former president had been misunderstood.
01:06He stands behind his legacy resolutely and he maintains his innocence absolutely.
01:13Under the ICC rules, judges will have to confirm charges before the case can move to trial.
01:18Duterte, who is now 80, will not be present at the hearings as his defense said he would not
01:23be able to understand proceedings due to his cognitive decline. However, judges ruled last
01:28month that Duterte was fit to stand trial. Outside the ICC, dozens of activists protested,
01:34calling Duterte a coward for not showing up. While in the Philippines, families of victims
01:38gathered to watch the confirmation of charges hearing. One of them was Dale Cuartero, a mother
01:43of a drug war victim. He should be held accountable for all the sins he committed against the victims
01:51of his war on drugs. We have been waiting for justice. We've been waiting for over 10 years
01:58for us to attain justice.
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