Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Former President Rodrigo Duterte testifies at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on extrajudicial killings, addressing alleged human rights violations from his administration’s war on drugs on October 28, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

RODRIGO-DUTERTE

Rowegie Abanto

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The alleged link between the drug war and the supposed killing of the missing cockfight enthusiasts, if proven, could serve as additional evidence in the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte, according to a lawyer of the drug war victims.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/14/whistleblower-files-admin-raps-vs-cops-tagged-in-missing-sabungeros-case-1509">Whistleblower files admin raps vs cops tagged in ‘missing sabungeros’ case</a></div><p>&quot;In a sense, this will be additional evidence. Actually, the police, or in particular, these death squads, have been implicated also in killings of activists and other such targeted killings. It would add to the concept [that] some policemen being involved in a death squad or alternative criminal syndicate,&quot; said Kristina Conti, an ICC-accredited assistant to counsel.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/14/human-bones-found-in-taal-in-missing-sabungeros-search-pnp-1059">Human bones found in Taal in missing sabungeros search: PNP</a></div><p>Duterte faces crimes against humanity over his bloody war against drug users and dealers that rights groups say killed thousands.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DRUG WAR &#x27;LINK&#x27; </strong></div><p>In a previous interview, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that certain policemen involved in the drug war were also involved in e-sabong.</p><p>“May mga taong parehong involved sa pagpatay sa drug war at sa e-sabong, that’s as far as we can cite now but we have to establish clearer links to each other,” he said.</p><p>Remulla also noted that Taal Lake has become the go-to place for disposal of human remains, saying: &quot;Mukhang nakasanayan nang magtapon talaga roon, it has already become a place to dispose of human remains.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/15/search-for-missing-sabungeros-could-take-six-months-justice-secretary-remulla-0858">Search for missing sabungeros could take six months - Justice Secretary Remulla</a></div><p>Whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias &quot;Totoy,&quot; has claimed that some missing sabungeros were executed and dumped in Taal Lake.</p><p>Remulla also said that forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun would be on board in the missing sabungeros case.</p><p>“She will be there, she has always been cooperative with the DOJ, she has always been receptive to our requests here,” Remulla said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>— With a report from Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News</strong></div>

<p>An ICC-accredited lawyer argued that the "missing sabungeros" case could serve as "additional evidence" in the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p>

An ICC-accredited lawyer argued that the "missing sabungeros" case could serve as "additional evidence" in the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

'Missing sabungeros' case may boost ICC case vs Duterte: drug war victims' lawyer

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'Missing sabungeros' case may boost ICC case vs Duterte: drug war victims' lawyer

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 15, 2025 11:35 AM PHT

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