Lawmakers push for charges against Duterte over drug war killings

Several lawmakers, including House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre and Assistant Majority Leaders Jay Khonghun and Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, are calling for charges to be filed against former President Rodrigo Duterte following his admission of full legal responsibility for alleged extrajudicial killings during his anti-drug campaign.

Bienvenido Abante Jr., co-chairman of the House quadruple committee and Manila Representative, emphasized that Duterte's spontaneous admission in the Senate hearing is binding evidence under oath and can serve as a basis to file criminal charges under Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on crimes against international humanitarian law.

Abante clarified that Duterte’s remarks meet all the elements of Willful Killing as a Crime Against Humanity under Section 6 of RA 9851, with estimates ranging from 12,000 to 30,000 deaths during his administration's drug war.

The House quadcomm will resume its hearings on November 6, hoping that Duterte, Dela Rosa, and Senator Bong Go will attend to address allegations of involvement in extrajudicial killings.

Lawmakers also called for the Senate to submit Duterte's affidavit and hearing recordings to the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigating drug war deaths during his administration.