MANILA — Families of victims killed in the Philippine drug war have urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to reject a new appeal by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s camp, which seeks to terminate all ongoing proceedings and demand his “immediate” and “unconditional” release.
Duterte’s legal team submitted a 21-page “Appeal Brief on Jurisdiction” to the ICC Appeals Chamber on November 14, 2025, challenging the October 23 decision by Pre-Trial Chamber I affirming the court’s authority to continue investigating alleged crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s anti-drug campaign.
In a statement, relatives of drug war victims condemned Duterte’s move as a “continuing attempt to evade justice and accountability.”
“Malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw na gusto lang takasan ni Duterte ang pananagutan. Alam niyang mabigat ang ebidensya laban sa kanya at sa kanyang mga alipores kaya nais niyang ipatigil ang kaso noon pa man. Siya ang nag-utos na paslangin ang aming mga mahal sa buhay,” said Sally Ramos, mother of extrajudicial killing victim Cristeta Ramos.
Llore Pasco, parent of victims Crisanto and Juan Carlos Lozano, accused Duterte of using the same tactics he employed when the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute as the ICC inquiry into his drug war began.
“Halos sampung taon na kaming naghahanap ng hustisya. Wala kaming napala sa mga korte sa Pilipinas kaya kami dumulog sa ICC. Hindi kami papayag na hindi mapaparusahan si Duterte,” she said. “Ayaw naming matulad si Duterte kay Enrile. Gusto naming mapanagot siya sa kanyang mga krimen bago siya mawala sa mundong ito.”
Rubylin Litao, national coordinator of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, called on the ICC to “proceed with the confirmation of charges and arrest Duterte’s co-perpetrators as soon as possible.”
“Duterte’s lawyers may have tried all the delaying tactics available at their disposal, but they cannot erase Duterte’s crimes against humanity,” Litao added.