Free Republic

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has been charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The 80-year-old is accused of being criminally responsible for dozens of murders that allegedly took place as part of his so-called war on drugs, during which thousands of small-time drug dealers, users and others were killed without trial. The ICC's charge sheet, which includes several redactions, dates from July but was only made public on Monday. ICC deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang said Duterte was an "indirect co-perpetrator" in the killings, which the court alleges were carried out by others, including police....

Philippines' president-elect Rodrigo Duterte vowed Sunday to reintroduce capital punishment and give security forces "shoot-to-kill" orders in a devastating war on crime. In his first press conference since winning the May 9 elections in a landslide, the tough-talking mayor of southern Davao city warned his campaign threats to kill were not rhetoric. "What I will do is urge Congress to restore (the) death penalty by hanging," Duterte, 71, told a press conference in Davao. He also said he would give security forces "shoot-to-kill" orders against organised criminals or those who violently resisted arrest. "If you resist, show violent resistance, my...

State media report gunmen have kidnapped four people, including two Canadians and a Norwegian, from a resort in the southern Philippines. The official Philippines news agency reports the abductions took place Monday evening at the Oceanview Resort on Samal Island. ... The three foreigners are male, and the Norwegian is the manager of the resort. The southern Philippines has been plagued by unrest involving Islamist militants in recent years, including the taking of foreign hostages.