Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Kin of extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims and human rights advocates post “wanted” posters of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his alleged co-perpetrators at the Freedom Wall along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The move marks the first anniversary of Duterte’s arrest and detention by the International Criminal Court (ICC).  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17768558522651776855849693.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Kin of extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims and human rights advocates post “wanted” posters of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his alleged co-perpetrators at the Freedom Wall along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The move marks the first anniversary of Duterte’s arrest and detention by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — Families of the victims of the Duterte administration&#x27;s &quot;war on drugs&quot; and human rights advocates welcomed the decision of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court upholding its jurisdiction over the crimes against humanity case filed against former President Rodrigo Duterte, calling it a &quot;triumph of their right to truth and justice&quot;.In a statement released through the Center for International Law, the victims said the decision sends a strong message to the international community that withdrawing from the Rome Statute does not protect responsible state officials from criminal accountability for international crimes such as crimes against humanity.They also consider the decision a victory in their search for truth and justice.&quot;The victims also view the Appeals Chamber Decision as the triumph of their right, under international law, to truth and justice for their loved ones murdered under Mr. Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. The Appeal Decision effectively affirms that the ICC proceedings are also victim centered,&quot; they said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/22/icc-upholds-jurisdiction-over-duterte-case-1735">ICC upholds jurisdiction over Duterte case </a></div>&quot;Ultimately, the ICC Appeals Decision confirms that impunity does not pay even in withdrawal,&quot; they added.CenterLaw lawyers Joel Butuyan and Gilbert Andres represent the victims through the ICC&#x27;s Office of Public Counsel for Victims.The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocated (PAHRA), for its part, said the ICC&#x27;s decision clears the path for a full trial.&quot;By dismissing the final challenge to its authority, the Court has cleared the path for a full trial,&quot; it said in a statement.&quot;For the families of &#x27;War on Drugs&#x27; victims, this is a breakthrough for accountability.,&quot; it also said, adding the trial proper would provide an impartial venue for &quot;evidence of systemic violations.&quot;Families of &quot;drug war&quot; victims went to the ICC, saying justice from the widely popular and influential Duterte was impossible under domestic processes. &quot;This decision, which is another legal victory, is a product of the Filipino people’s unrelenting, persevering and staunch struggle for truth, justice and accountability,&quot; rights alliance Karapatan said as it called the Duterte administration &quot;one of the most vicious violators of human rights and international humanitarian law.&quot;<div> </div><div>SEN. MARCOS DISAPPOINTED WITH ICC DECISION</div>Meanwhile, Duterte ally Sen. Imee Marcos, former chair of the foreign relations committee, said she was disappointed with the decision.&quot;This determination disregards the Philippines’ sovereign withdrawal from the Rome Statute and undermines the fundamental principle that domestic institutions must be given primacy where they are able and willing to act,&quot; she said.Marcos and other Duterte supporters have raised the issue of sovereignty in the ICC having custody of and potentially trying Duterte.&quot;Justice must be pursued in a manner consistent with our Constitution, our laws, and the integrity of our own judicial processes,&quot; Marcos said.The ICC Appeals Chamber on Thursday junked petitions to halt proceedings against Duterte on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction.In its April 22 decision, the Appeals Chamber ruled that while the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, preliminary examinations on the situation in the Philippines started in 2018, a year before the Duterte administration sent a formal notice to pull back from the treaty governing the ICC.Duterte is charged with three counts of crimes against humanity over his war on drugs as mayor of Davao City and then as president of the Philippines.After years of challenging the ICC to come after him, Duterte was arrested in March 2025, and has since been detained in the Hague as the international tribunal tackles the cases filed against him.The 81-year-old has refused to attend his confirmation of charges hearings as well as the Appeals Chamber’s proceedings as his lawyers maintain that these cases should be tried in the Philippines, where there is a fully functioning judicial system.

Families of the victims of the Duterte administration's "war on drugs" and human rights advocates welcomed the decision of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court upholding its jurisdiction over the case filed against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Families of the victims of the Duterte administration's "war on drugs" and human rights advocates welcomed the decision of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court upholding its jurisdiction over the case filed against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Drug war victims, rights advocates welcome ICC decision on Duterte appeal

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Drug war victims, rights advocates welcome ICC decision on Duterte appeal

ABS-CBN News

Published April 22, 2026 07:20 PM PHT

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Updated April 22, 2026 07:30 PM PHT

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Rodrigo Duterte

ICC

International Criminal Court

war on drugs

PAHRA

human rights

crimes against humanity

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