A 15-page International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Rodrigo Duterte, was issued on Friday and made public by the court, outlining the accusations against the former Philippines president over killings in his war on drugs.

The warrant charges Duterte with murder as a crime against humanity. Duterte, has long insisted he instructed police to kill only in self-defense and has defended the crackdown.

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The document says the judges are satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to conclude the ex-president was at the head of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) and later oversaw Philippines' law enforcement while in office as president.

According to the judges, there are reasonable grounds to conclude Duterte could be held criminally responsible for the killings of at least 19 alleged drug dealers or thieves by the DDS in Davao city and at least 24 other alleged criminals killed by or under the supervision of members of the Philippines' law enforcement.

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The judges also conclude that while the Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in 2019, the alleged crimes in the warrant took place while Manila was still a member, so the court has jurisdiction over them. 

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