ICC Prosecutor Details 590% Surge in Police Killings Under Duterte's Drug War
In a stark revelation during the confirmation of charges hearing, International Criminal Court (ICC) trial lawyer Robynne Croft presented data indicating that police killings increased by a staggering 590% during the first 25 months of former President Rodrigo Duterte's administration starting in 2016. Croft asserted that these killings were systematic and widespread, directly linked to the government's controversial war on drugs.
From Davao to National Scale: A Pattern of Violence
The prosecution highlighted that at least 274 confirmed killings occurred while Duterte was mayor of Davao City, a number that escalated dramatically upon his ascent to the presidency. While official government figures cite between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths, human rights groups estimate the actual toll could be three times higher, suggesting a significant underreporting of fatalities.
Regional Hotspots and International Comparisons
In Bulacan province, the increase in police killings was even more pronounced, reaching approximately 1,600%. Shockingly, the rate per 100,000 population in this region from 2016 to 2018 exceeded that of the entire nation of India, underscoring the intensity of the violence in specific areas.
Expert Testimony Points to Policy-Driven Killings
An expert consulted by the prosecution concluded that the only reasonable explanation for such a dramatic spike in fatalities is the existence of a widespread policy endorsing extrajudicial killings. This testimony challenges claims that the deaths were isolated incidents or resulted solely from police confrontations.
The 'Davao Formula' Goes National
Croft emphasized that Duterte allegedly transported what has been termed the "Davao formula" to the national level, collaborating with allies in high-ranking positions to implement similar tactics across the country. The prosecutor presented speeches by Duterte that purportedly encouraged police to kill suspects in exchange for protection and rewards, further implicating top-level directives in the violence.
This ICC proceeding continues to scrutinize the accountability of Philippine officials during the drug war, with these findings adding weight to allegations of state-sanctioned killings. The data presented not only quantifies the human cost but also paints a picture of a coordinated effort that transcended local boundaries, affecting thousands of lives nationwide.
