Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Families of drug war victims expressed relief and hope for justice following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte during a press conference at the UCCP Chapel in Quezon City on March 12, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

DUTERTE ARREST

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174238164551820250312-duterte-ikulong-ejk-widows-MT04.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Families of drug war victims expressed relief and hope for justice following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte during a press conference at the UCCP Chapel in Quezon City on March 12, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Families of drug war victims expressed relief and hope for justice following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte during a press conference at the UCCP Chapel in Quezon City on March 12, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Drug war victims should pursue local cases against “small fry” officials involved in the extrajudicial killing of civilians during the Duterte administration’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs, a legal expert said on Wednesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/11/rodrigo-duterte-and-icc-from-years-long-probe-to-unexpected-arrest-1927">Rodrigo Duterte and ICC: From years-long probe to &#x27;unexpected&#x27; arrest</a></div><p>While former President Rodrigo Duterte — the alleged mastermind of the alleged systematic killings of drug suspects — has been brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands, his underlings should also face charges in local courts, said Kristina Conti of the National Union of Peoples&#x27; Lawyers (NUPL).</p><p>“I would recommend filing charges against the ‘small fry’ because that is how the ICC envisions its role,” she told state television PTV.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/11/what-we-know-about-ex-president-rodrigo-dutertes-arrest-1718">What we know about ex- president Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s arrest</a></div><p>“Ang ICC, doon siya sa mga pinakamatataas, kasi baka hindi na kayanin or walang oportunidad sa lokal na jurisdiction, pero bukas na bukas pa rin ang domestic courts ay mag-entertain ng katulad ng mga charges at doon sa mismong kumalabit ng gatilyo o kaya doon sa mga chief of police o kaya doon sa mga—para komprehensibo iyong hustiyang matanggap,” she said.</p><p>Duterte has been detained in the Scheveningen detention facility since last week, after the ICC ordered for his arrest over charges of crimes against humanity linked to his bloody drug war. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/18/duterte-risks-facing-more-charges-due-to-his-supporters-behavior-on-social-media-1414">Duterte may face more trouble after supporters spam ICC judge&#x27;s social media, says lawyer</a></div><p>The ICC has yet to say if it would also issue arrest warrants against Duterte’s co-accused, including former Philippine National Police chiefs Ronald Dela Rosa and Oscar Albayalde.</p><p>More than 6,000 suspected drug personalities were killed during Duterte&#x27;s drug war, according to official figures. But human rights groups estimate that the toll could be as high as 30,000.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PBxRMBjPbmY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Drug war victims should pursue local cases against “small fry” officials involved in the killing during the Duterte administration’s drug war.</p>

Drug war victims should pursue local cases against “small fry” officials involved in the killing during the Duterte administration’s drug war.

Drug war victims should pursue local cases vs ‘small fry’ perpetrators: legal expert

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Drug war victims should pursue local cases vs ‘small fry’ perpetrators: legal expert

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 19, 2025 07:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Kristina Conti

war on drugs

Rodrigo Duterte

Oplan Tokhang

NUPL

ICC

crimes against humanity

justice

drug war

ANC

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.