Hague tribunal launches investigation into Dutertes of crimes against humanity

The Hague International Criminal Court launched a preliminary investigation into allegations of crimes against humanity committed by President Filipino Duterte, at “his brutal anti-drugist”.

The court received a report last year presenting evidence that Duterte was personally responsible for the executions and mass killings over three decades since he started the war on drugs in 1988 while he was mayor of the town of Davao.

Official statistics in the Philippines show that 4,000 people have been killed by police in a drug operation since Duterte became president. But the report presented by a Philippine lawyer states that the balance of victims exceeds 8,000.

Prosecutors of the International Criminal Court said they would investigate allegations of crimes committed at least as early as July 1, 2016, under the campaign against drugs.

The initiative is the first preliminary investigation this court conducts into a nation in southeast Asia. The Filipino opposition said the court's investigation shows that charges against Dutertes have legitimacy in the bloody fight against drugs, still ongoing.

On the other hand, Dutertes spokesman said the investigation is a waste of time and money by the international court, even a violation of the Philippines's sovereignty.

Since taking power in 2016, Duterte launched the promised campaign against drugs, and his critics say police execute protected by the president. Duterte himself has not spoken of investigating the International Criminal Court, but earlier described it as a garbage institution, hypocritical and useless, even challenging him to judge.

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