Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands — The opening of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing was met with approval from both drug war victims and the Filipino leaders’ supporters, with each side remaining optimistic after the prosecution, defense and victims’ panels presented their case before the Internatinal Criminal Court.The prosecutors were “trial ready,” ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti told ABS-CBN News.“Opening statements could have been as varied as politicizing the issue, emphasizing the situation in the Philippines, but no, he dove straight into the evidence,” she said, underscoring that ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang was a “former judge of an international criminal tribunal.”“He knows what the judges need to hear so moving forward, this case is trial ready,” she said.“Trial ready ang prosecutor kaya there is no other way but to confirm the charges.”Sheera Escudero — whose brother was found dead in Pampanga in 2018 — said that she is also “satisfied with how the ICC presented everything from different sides.”“We’re grateful na na-echo nila kung ano yugn story namin and real life experiences,” she said in a chance interview after the proceedings.“Pinakita nila sa atin kung ano yung itsura ng hustisya ng due process na hindi natin natanggap at naranasan sa Philippines.”“Overall, it’s a very positive day for us at Day 1 pa lang ito.”Several members of Duterte’s Filipino legal team downplayed how the Prosecution used clips of the former President’s public speeches, where he explicitly told his audience to kill suspected drug users, and showed that he was in good health about 3 days before he was arrested and flown to the ICC.“What we have kanina from the prosecution are mere allegations. It is so easy to make any presentation… Madaling magsabi na mamamatay tao siya pero what is your proof? May namatay pero anong proof mo na siya yung pumatay o nagpapatay?” said Silvestre Bello III, Duterte’s former Labor Secretary.“We have very high hopes from the presentation of the defense counsel of Atty. Kaufman… Ayaw kong pangunahan sila I know they know what they are doing… basta alam ko naman na kaya nila,” he said.Former Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo also lauded Duterte’s primary defense team for rebutting several arguments pinning the Philippines’ 16th President for the deaths of thousands of Filipinos while he was in power.“Walang bago sa sinabi ng prosecution, paulit-ulit yung mga kasinungalingann nila, mga alegasyon na batay sa haka haka… Buti na lang itong depensa, lahat ng pinunto nila ay sinagot at tinapon ulit sa mukha nila na puro kasinungalingan,” he said.Despite these statements, the Panelo said he hoped that the defense would further emphasize the ICC’s lack of jurisdiction in Duterte’s case.“Kahit na anong galing ng defense, kahit na anong galing ng prosecution, kailangan maresolve muna na itong hukuman na ito ay mayroon bang kapangyarihan na manghimasok sa kaso ni Presidente Duterte o sa bansa natin,” he said.“‘Yun ang gusto kong marinig sa depensa, na kulitin nila ang hukuman, sabihin nila: ‘Anong ginagawa natin dito? Bakit kayo pumapasok sa bansa ng kliyente ko na kayo’y walang kapangyarihan na pumasok?’”The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I earlier denied the defense panel’s claim that the chamber had no jurisdiction against the former president. An appeal is still pending.The first day of the confirmation of charges hearing focused on the first charge of crimes against humanity filed against Duterte, which highlighted pieces of evidence demonstrating how he supposedly ordered the killing of drug suspects and even personal enemies while he was still serving as Davao City Mayor.In the succeeding days, the chamber is expected to review if there is sufficient evidence showing that Duterte perpetrated crimes against humanity during his tenure as Philippine president.<div> </div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GwCUI3T0j5c??si=gHw7BryFLN5bpVKj&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

The opening of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing was met with approval from both drug war victims and the Filipino leaders’ supporters.

The opening of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing was met with approval from both drug war victims and the Filipino leaders’ supporters.

Duterte camp, drug war victims' supporters 'satisfied' with start of ICC hearing

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Duterte camp, drug war victims' supporters 'satisfied' with start of ICC hearing

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 24, 2026 03:52 AM PHT

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Updated February 25, 2026 08:22 AM PHT

Read More:

ICC

Rodrigo Duterte

war on drugs

Davao City

ABSnews

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