Human rights group Karapatan, together with families of extrajudicial killing victims and allied human rights advocates, has filed a formal complaint before the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The complaint, submitted on Friday, calls for the disbarment of former president and lawyer Rodrigo Duterte for alleged violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) and conduct unbecoming of a member of the legal profession.
The petition underscores Duterte’s role in the thousands of deaths linked to his controversial war on drugs, which has faced widespread criticism from international and local human rights organizations. Official government data cites over 6,200 deaths during anti-drug operations, but independent watchdogs estimate that the true number may range between 12,000 and 30,000, with many of the victims coming from marginalized communities.
Karapatan and the complainants argue that Duterte’s public statements and alleged directives during his presidency promoted a culture of impunity, violating ethical standards expected of lawyers. The group asserts that his remarks about instructing law enforcement officials to “kill drug suspects” and admissions of running a “death squad” while serving as mayor of Davao City directly contradict principles enshrined in the CPRA.
The filing also takes place amid ongoing investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into alleged crimes against humanity during Duterte’s tenure as president. Despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2019, the court retains jurisdiction over offenses committed while the country was still a signatory.
