Camille Naredo

Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) receive the cremated remains of their loved ones during the 20th "Program Paghilom" at the Sacred Heart Parish Shrine, in Quezon City on May 15, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) receive the cremated remains of their loved ones during the 20th "Program Paghilom" at the Sacred Heart Parish Shrine, in Quezon City on May 15, 2025. The remains, were blessed and turned over to their immediate family, were part of the exhumed and re-autopsied bodies of drug war victims. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

EJKs

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175421174499320250515-program-paghilom-cremation-MT-6 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) receive the cremated remains of their loved ones during the 20th &quot;Program Paghilom&quot; at the Sacred Heart Parish Shrine, in Quezon City on May 15, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/>Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) receive the cremated remains of their loved ones during the 20th &quot;Program Paghilom&quot; at the Sacred Heart Parish Shrine, in Quezon City on May 15, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- A lawyer representing the victims of alleged killings in former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s drug war said his defense team&#x27;s choice not to call witnesses during the confirmation of charges hearing on Sept. 23 would have no impact on them. Rights lawyer Kristina Conti said this is part of the defense&#x27;s preparations. &quot;Kailangan nilang tablahin ang sasabihin ng prosecution. Sa regulasyon ng ICC, kailangan ipauna muna ano ang hitsura ng stratehiya mo, ano ang hitsura ng depensa mo,&quot; Conti, a lawyer for the EJK victims, a separate entity from the prosecution team, told ABS-CBN News. &quot;Mayroon ka bang i-invoke o sasabihin na grounds for exclusion sa criminal responsibility o kumbaga mayroon ka bang sasabihin na magpapawalang-sala sayo? Magbibigay ka na ba ng alibi?&quot; she added. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/3/drug-war-victims-lawyer-hows-of-potential-duterte-release-more-important-than-where-1622">Drug war victims&#x27; lawyer: Hows of potential Duterte release ‘more important’ than where</a></div>Conti said the International Criminal Court (ICC) gets these kinds of information to streamline the processes and to ensure there would be &quot;no surprises.&quot; &quot;Ang sabi ng depensa hindi sila magbibigay ng alibi o excuse na hindi ako ang dapat mo kasuhan. (JC 3:19) Hindi daw sila magtatawag ng witness. Mayroon daw silang patutungkulan na documentary evidence o ilang kapapelan pero mukhang lalabas ay pasibo ang depensa dito,&quot; she added. The defense&#x27;s submission serves as an &quot;advanced notice&quot; on what they would do, she said, that&#x27;s why this move has little to no impact on them. &quot;Ang submission of defense ay pang-unang batid tungkol sa gagawin nila. Ako ang nakikita ko, kung very particular tayo sa Sept. 23 – kung gaano katagal sila magsasalita. Kung walang witness, wala naman silang ibang ihahain na ebidensya, edi maikli lang ang opening arguments ni Kaufman para kay Duterte,&quot; she said. Meanwhile, she said today, Aug. 3, is the deadline for the submission of victims to participate in the confirmation of charges hearing. &quot;Ang panawagan ng ICC sa mga biktima, kung gusto niyong mag-participate, kung gusto niyong makilala, at kung gusto niyo magbigay ng views and concerns, mga pananaw, kuro-kuro nang pormal sa ICC judges, pwede kayo mag-apply,&quot; Conti said. Victims who applied would still be screened by the ICC before Sept. 23. During the confirmation hearing, she said the victims of the case would be recognized. &quot;Kung saka-sakaling magtuloy tayo ng trial, kung saka-sakaling magkaroon ng conviction, kung saka-sakaling magtuloy ng reparations o pagbibigay ng danyos o reparasyon, magkakaroon pa rin ng call for victims to participate,&quot; she said. The prosecution, defense, and victim panels are expected to speak during the confirmation hearing, she said.<script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABdlNO4nH9U8Z5bI"></script>

A lawyer representing the victims of alleged killings in former President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war said his defense team's choice not to call witnesses during the confirmation of charges hearing on Sept. 23 would have no impact on them.

A lawyer representing the victims of alleged killings in former President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war said his defense team's choice not to call witnesses during the confirmation of charges hearing on Sept. 23 would have no impact on them.

Duterte defense's decision not to call witnesses has 'no impact on us' -- Conti

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Duterte defense's decision not to call witnesses has 'no impact on us' -- Conti

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 03, 2025 05:03 PM PHT

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Updated August 03, 2025 07:01 PM PHT

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ICC

confirmation hearing

Rodrigo Duterte

ABSNews

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