Camille Naredo

Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) turn emotional as they watch the live streaming of the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber rejecting the appeal of the defense team for the interim release of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, at the UP College of Law in Quezon City on November 28, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) turn emotional as they watch the live streaming of the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber rejecting the appeal of the defense team for the interim release of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, at the UP College of Law in Quezon City on November 28, 2025.

Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, by Interpol following an ICC warrant charging him with crimes against humanity related to the Philippine drug war. 

Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

DUTERTE-ICC

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177131547593520251128-icc-rejects-duterte-interim-release-MT10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) turn emotional as they watch the live streaming of the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber rejecting the appeal of the defense team for the interim release of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, at the UP College of Law in Quezon City on November 28, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/FileFamilies of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) turn emotional as they watch the live streaming of the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber rejecting the appeal of the defense team for the interim release of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, at the UP College of Law in Quezon City on November 28, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) turn emotional as they watch the live streaming of the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber rejecting the appeal of the defense team for the interim release of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, at the UP College of Law in Quezon City on November 28, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Relatives and supporters of drug war victims are preparing an anti-troll network and other support systems ahead of former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s confirmation of charges hearing in the International Criminal Court (ICC) next week, saying that they expect bullying and disinformation to proliferate during the week-long proceedings in the international tribunal.</p><p>The Duterte camp is expected to use strategies not just in the courtroom but also in the court of public opinion, particularly social media, such as intimidation and bullying of victims and their relatives, said Kristina Conti, an assistant to counsel at the ICC, who will also help in representing drug war victims before the Pre-Trial Chamber I.</p><p>&quot;Ang atake sa mga biktima ang risk ay nasa social media online at offline,&quot; she said in a press conference.</p><p>&quot;Magpapatulong po kami sa general netizens na kilalanin yung mga genuine statements… [Dahil] yung magkakasabay na inauthentic behavior will come at a particular time, parepareho ng script,&quot; she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;SHOCK AND AWE&#x27;</strong></div><p>Victims and their relatives are also bracing for a possible &quot;shock and awe&quot; strategy from the defense camp, saying that they expect a &quot;thin&quot; and &quot;aging&quot; Duterte to appear before the chamber and the public for the first time after almost a year in detention.</p><p>&quot;Pinaghahandaan po namin ang pagharap niya bilang kakaibang tao na,&quot; Conti said.</p><p>&quot;Baka po ang itsura niya ay mukha nang ermitanyo ayon sa salaysay ng kaniyang kaanak… Ang buhok niya maputi na, posibleng pinahaba,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung visualization ng kung ano ang magiging itsura niya ay paghahanda sa sarili para maunahan mo na,&quot; she said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/16/drug-war-victims-kin-slam-duterte-s-continuing-attempt-to-evade-justice-accountability-1955">READ: Drug war victims’ kin slam Duterte’s ‘continuing attempt to evade justice, accountability’ after ICC appeal</a></div><p>The victims&#x27; camp underscores that the public should not be easily swayed by the stark change in the former President that they may possibly see next week.</p><p>&quot;Yung magulang ko noong pinatay, parehas na matanda yun… &#x27;yung nanay ko stroke victim tapos tinadtad ng bala sa katawan,&quot; said VJ Topacio, whose parents were slain at the height of the Duterte administration&#x27;s campaign against illegal drugs.</p><p>&quot;Hindi usapin &#x27;yung pagiging matanda. May kasalanan ang taong yun, kailangan niya managot,&quot; he said.</p><p>The victims&#x27; camp also underscored that no shock and awe strategy can jolt their arguments against the systemic killing of Filipinos when Duterte was in power.</p><p>&quot;Kahit anong shock and awe ang gawin diyan, &#x27;yung biktima dapat magsalita na walang korte korte walang abogado abogado, walang kaawa awang pinatay,&quot; said Neri Colmenares, who is also a legal counsel to victims and their families.</p><p>&quot;Ang katotohanan at ang karapatan ng lahat na maghanap ng hustisya ang dapat manaig,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HIGH COST OF ATTENDING THE ICC PROCEEDINGS</strong></div><p>While the ICC has already recognized 529 victims in the 3 counts of crimes against humanity charges filed against Duterte, legal counsels have refused to divulge the list of individuals who will travel to the Hague to attend the proceedings, underscoring the threats that they face offline.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/13/icc-approves-500-more-applicants-to-participate-as-victims-in-duterte-case-1849">READ: ICC approves 500 more applicants to participate as victims in Duterte case</a></div><p>&quot;Sa totoo ang pinakamahirap na kakaharapin ng mga biktima ay yung tutsadahan sa kanilang mga community,&quot; Conti explained to reporters.</p><p>&quot;Kaya &#x27;pag sinabing hayaan muna natin ang mga biktima na maging anonymous, choice nila yun… Bigyan natin sila ng safe na pamamaraan,&quot; she said.</p><p>There are several victims who are willing to travel to the ICC to see the proceedings themselves, but are held back by the high cost of logistics, said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay.</p><p>&quot;Sa totoo lang ang mahal e. This is a very expensive process… But on top of the money, &#x27;yung lakas ng loob para pumunta doon, putting yourself out there with many risks ay mahalaganag irecognize yun,&quot; she said.</p><p>Each individual is expected to shell out some P200,000 for their travel, lodging and daily expenses in the week-long proceedings in the Hague, according to an estimate from one of their network&#x27;s legal counsels.</p><p>The ICC earlier announced that Duterte&#x27;s confirmation of charges hearing will be spread across 4 days to give ample time for the defense, prosecution and victims panel to present their arguments on whether or not there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.</p><p>Under ICC rules, the Pre-Trial Chamber is not mandated to release its ruling by the end of the proceedings as judges are given 60 days to render their decision.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/28/icc-chamber-rejects-duterte-s-appeal-for-interim-release-1817" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: ICC appeals chamber rejects Duterte&#x27;s interim release bid</a></div><p>&quot;It&#x27;s difficult that is why it is also incumbent for organizations to come together to support the victims and the families,&quot; Palabay said.</p><p>&quot;Hindi po madali yung proseso but recognizing the need to go through all that, kailangan po ng pamilya ng mga biktima ang lahat ng suporta,&quot; she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;GLIMMER OF HOPE&#x27;</strong><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177131556400820251128-icc-rejects-duterte-interim-release-MT4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) turn emotional as they watch the live streaming of the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber rejecting the appeal of the defense team for the interim release of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, at the UP College of Law in Quezon City on November 28, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) turn emotional as they watch the live streaming of the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber rejecting the appeal of the defense team for the interim release of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, at the UP College of Law in Quezon City on November 28, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Cellphone technician Ephraim Escudero was one of those killed during Duterte&#x27;s drug war. He was last seen alive leaving for work in San Pablo, Laguna in 2017. Nearly a week after his disappearance, his lifeless body was found in a rural part of Pampanga — head wrapped in packing tape and his body riddled with gunshots.</p><p>Nearly a decade after his death, his older sister Sheera continues to seek justice, calling the confirmation of charges hearing against Duterte a glimmer of hope for their family.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/15/drug-war-victims-kin-welcome-naming-of-bato-go-as-co-perpetrators-in-icc-case-0954">READ: Drug war victims&#x27; kin welcome naming of Bato, Go as &#x27;co-perpetrators&#x27; in ICC case</a></div><p>&quot;Gusto ko po tumayo sa harap ni Duterte [at ipakita] na totoo ako, totoo kaming mga pamilya at isa lang po ako sa mga pamilya na nawalan ng mahal sa buhay. Libo-libo po kami at isa lang po ako doon,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Para po sa amin, napakailap po ng hustisya. Broken po ang justice system namin. Hindi kami pinapansin,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Sa ICC, ito yung lugar kung saan kami naririnig at nakikita. Samantalang dito po sa pilipinas, binabaligtad pa po sila… Kaming mga pamilya, binabatikos, pinapagtawanan, ginagawang meme,&quot; she said.</p><p>Sheera admitted that Ephraim used &quot;recreational drugs&quot; when he was a teenager, but has been clean long before Duterte rose to the presidency in 2016.</p><p>Allegations of Ephraim&#x27;s drug use is moot before courts, because tribunals will not distinguish drug users from those who are not, Colmenares said.</p><p>&quot;The defense has also been careful with that… Kasi alam nila na ilegal yan sa ilalim ng ICC, ilegal sa ilalim ng pilipinas,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Para sa ICC ke may droga o hindi, bawal ang pumatay.&quot;</p>

<p>Relatives and supporters of drug war victims are preparing an anti-troll network and other support systems ahead of former President Rodrigo Duterte's confirmation of charges hearing in the International Criminal Court next week.</p>

Relatives and supporters of drug war victims are preparing an anti-troll network and other support systems ahead of former President Rodrigo Duterte's confirmation of charges hearing in the International Criminal Court next week.

Drug war victims' kin, supporters mount anti-troll networks ahead of Duterte's ICC appearance

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Drug war victims' kin, supporters mount anti-troll networks ahead of Duterte's ICC appearance

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 17, 2026 04:07 PM PHT

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