Marilyn Cahatol

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/file

Article (news)

DUTERTE ARREST

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:604px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175594032216420250312-duterte-ikulong-ejk-widows-MT05.jpg" style="width:604px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><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/file</span></span></span>MANILA — The applications of drug war victims to participate in the proceedings before the International Criminal Court are thoroughly assessed as these included accounts from the applicants, according to ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti.</div><p>The ICC Registry, through the Victims Participation and Reparations Section (VPRS), recently transmitted its report on Group C applications for victim participation in pre-trial proceedings before the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 that oversees the case of former president Rodrigo Duterte for his bloody drug war.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/23/more-than-300-apply-to-participate-in-duterte-icc-case-as-drug-war-victims-1001">More than 300 apply to participate in Duterte ICC case as drug war victims</a></div><p>Group C consists of applications for which the VPRS is not able to establish whether they fall within or not the scope of the Case, according to the ICC.</p><p>The report contained a selection of quotes from the applications “to ensure that the voices of these survivors are also conveyed to the Judges prior to their decision on victim participation in the Case.&quot;</p><p>“Binabasa, sinisinsin nung mga nagdo-document ‘yung laman ng application bukod pa doon sa kumbaga attachments, yung mga proof, etc. Hindi lang naman ito kumbaga, ‘oh kumpleto ka ba ng dokumento, okay na?’Hindi eh. Sinisilip nila ‘yung substansya at may inisyal silang mga ipinakita na mga statement ng mga biktima,” she told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview Saturday, August 23.</p><p>One of excerpts recounted the pain of losing a son in the drug war.</p><p>“Even in death [my son] was not treated with dignity. […] It was like they just threw my son in like a pig,” the statement read.</p><p>“To this day, the pain has not faded. The wounds of losing [my son] are reopened with every memory of his passing. And the question that continues to haunt them remains: will justice ever be served?” it added.</p><p>Another applicant said the trauma still lingers after losing loved ones.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/23/icc-moves-forward-with-duterte-case-as-victim-applications-are-submitted-0806">ICC moves forward with Duterte case as victim applications are submitted</a></div><p>“Now, I am still suffering from trauma. Whenever I see a patrol car, I get afraid because I would imagine the bodies of my [redacted] sons thrown into a patrol car that day. Whenever I see a police officer, I would be enraged,” it said.</p><p>Conti, who is also a legal counsel of drug war victims under the Rise Up for Life and for Rights group, hopes the statements would prove the lengths the drug war victims are willing to take to attain justice.</p><p>“At doon sana naman, pag binasa ‘yun ng judges, makita nila kung gaano kauhaw sa hustisya ang mga Pilipino na ‘dito na lang po ako sa ICC dudulog dahil wala po akong nakikitang ilaw o pag-asa dito sa Pilipinas. Sana naman po, maging bahagi kami nitong prosesong ito’,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/25/icc-s-principal-counsel-for-victims-opposes-duterte-s-interim-release-plea-2227">ICC’s principal counsel for victims opposes Duterte’s interim release plea</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS</strong></div><p>Conti also offered an explanation on the number of applications received from drug war victims who want to participate in the proceedings.</p><p>The report said the VPRS <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/23/more-than-300-apply-to-participate-in-duterte-icc-case-as-drug-war-victims-1001">received</a> 303 application forms as of August 15, 2025 which it said is “a limited figure compared to the number of war on drugs victims who wish to participate in the case.&quot;</p><p>“‘Yung applications kasi ay maaaring individual or household form. Kaya may posibilidad na kumbaga, 303 applications may dagdag diyan na, kumbaga sa isang pamilya, may ilang maituturing na biktima. Sa ICC kasi, para sa kanila ang biktima ay hindi lang ‘yung mga namatay kundi mas importante ‘yung buhay pa. Lahat ng naapektuhan o nasaktan, na-injure nitong war on drugs at tumamo ng pinsala ay kikilalaning biktima,” she stated.</p><p>“Kaya itong bilang na ito, bagaman sinasabi nga nila maliit kasi ang maximum na bilang na makikita natin sa dokumento 30,000. Ang sinasabi nila eh kung ano naman ‘yung nais sabihin ng mga biktimang ‘to, representative mukhang kakatawanan naman nila ‘yung interes ng mga biktima ni Duterte,” the lawyer added.</p><p>Duterte was arrested on March 11  on his arrival from Hong Kong at the request of the ICC as part of its probe into his &quot;war on drugs&quot; that defined his presidency.</p><p>The ICC warrant for Duterte&#x27;s arrest said that as president, the 80-year-old Duterte allegedly created, funded, and armed death squads that carried out murders of purported drug users and dealers.</p><p>He was brought to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day he was arrested.</p><p>Duterte on March 14 appeared via video link before ICC judges. He is set to attend a September 23 hearing to confirm the charges against him. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/9/could-duterte-face-more-charges-at-icc-0851">Could Duterte face more charges at ICC?</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sPp1VXQX3vo?si=CCGEuS1ty6VVwAmY" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The applications of drug war victims to participate in the proceedings before the International Criminal Court are thoroughly assessed as it included some accounts from the applicants, according to ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti.</p>

The applications of drug war victims to participate in the proceedings before the International Criminal Court are thoroughly assessed as it included some accounts from the applicants, according to ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti.

Drug war victims’ statements in ICC Registry report show applications thoroughly assessed: lawyer

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Drug war victims’ statements in ICC Registry report show applications thoroughly assessed: lawyer

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 23, 2025 05:31 PM PHT

Read More:

ICC

Rodrigo Duterte

Kristina Conti

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

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.