LIVE: ICC hearing for Philippine ex-president Duterte

Privileged background contradicts populist image

Despite portraying himself as understanding the poor, Duterte came from a wealthy family of lawyers and politicians and served as a prosecutor for nearly a decade (1977-1986).

Admitted teaching police to plant evidence

As a prosecutor, Duterte allegedly taught officers that evidence planting was a 'necessary evil' for the common good, later admitting under oath in 2024 that it was 'part of the strategy as a mayor.'

Cultivated 'tough guy' persona with weapons

Evidence included videos and photos of Duterte riding motorcycles while firing pistols (2007) and posing with assault rifles alongside future police chiefs to project an image of violent authority.

Arrested March 2025 and transferred to The Hague

Duterte was arrested three days after a March 9, 2025 speech in Hong Kong where he dismissed the ICC as 'bullshit,' and was transferred to ICC custody shortly after.

Defense fitness claim rejected by medical experts

After his lawyers claimed he was unfit for proceedings, a panel of three medical experts appointed by the court unanimously found Duterte physically and mentally capable of standing trial.

Refused to appear despite medical clearance

The prosecutor noted that Duterte 'chose not to face the court' and 'doesn't want to be here,' despite having no medical reason preventing his attendance at the confirmation hearing.

Founded at celebratory 1988 hotel dinner

Witnesses testified Duterte formed the DDS at a festive meeting where he told new members their job was to 'kill the drug pushers, the snatchers, and the holdupers,' provided handguns from a basket, and sprayed champagne to celebrate.

Pyramidal command requiring top-down approval

The DDS operated through a hierarchical structure with Duterte at the apex, relaying orders through co-perpetrators (including Ronald dela Rosa and Christopher 'Bong' Go) to handlers and hitmen; witnesses confirmed 'you cannot just kill anyone... without Duterte's approval.'

Duterte's multiple admissions of leadership

He admitted in a 2015 interview 'I am the death squad,' repeated the confession under oath at a 2024 Senate hearing ('I really took care of it'), and confirmed his death squad was 'organized.'

Hitmen paid through city 'ghost employee' payroll

Duterte allegedly funded non-police hitmen by placing them as false employees on the Davao City Hall payroll, providing salaries, IDs, firearms, vehicles, and ammunition for their sole job of killing.

Financial rewards for murder

DDS members received reward money for killings, initially 10,000 pesos per kill, with one incident (Agdao Market, December 2013) paying 90,000 pesos total for the murders of three alleged thieves.

Targeted poor civilians including children

The prosecution emphasized that 'the poorest of the poor were his victims,' with 3 of the 19 victims in the charged incidents being children, and hitmen recruited from those indebted to Duterte to ensure control.

Video evidence of Duterte watching murders

Evidence includes YouTube footage showing Duterte in the CCTV control room watching live footage of the Agdao Market murders, where three DDS gunmen shot victims in broad daylight.