A single act of murder can constitute a crime against humanity if it forms part of a widespread or systematic attack on civilians, according to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Speaking to 24 Oras, ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah emphasized that crimes against humanity don’t require a specific number of victims. “Even one murder may qualify if it aligns with a broader plan targeting civilians,” he said in journalist Mariz Umali’s report.
This comes amid mounting scrutiny over former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, recently downplayed the ICC’s case against him, calling it unfair and insufficiently supported by the 181 pieces of evidence reportedly submitted.
“If there are only 43 murder cases, not even 50, how can you claim this proves systematic killings of 30,000 victims?” VP Duterte argued. “You’d need all their names to make that case. Sorry, but their lawyer is just stupid.”
However, legal experts countered her claims, stressing that age is not a legal shield in ICC proceedings and that naming every victim is unnecessary in proving crimes against humanity.
Human rights lawyer Kristina Conti challenged the Vice President to present her arguments directly to the ICC. “Let’s see if they’ll entertain her reasoning,” Conti remarked. “This isn’t a simple murder case. You don’t need to list every single victim.”
Duterte’s lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, reiterated their stance that the ICC has no jurisdiction, as the Philippines had exited the Rome Statute before the probe began. He expressed hope that judges would dismiss the case without moving to a confirmation-of-charges hearing.
Rodrigo Duterte is currently detained at the Hague’s Scheveningen Prison as he awaits further proceedings related to alleged extrajudicial killings during his presidency. While official data cites over 6,000 drug-related deaths, rights groups claim the real toll could exceed 30,000.