THE HAGUE – Nine years after losing both sons in a single day, Llore Pasco stands ready at the International Criminal Court as proceedings against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte commence. Alongside fellow complainant Sheera Escudero, whose teenage brother perished in the same brutal campaign, these mothers embody the human cost of a drug war that claimed thousands of lives between 2016 and 2022.
The confirmation of charges hearings, scheduled from February 23-26 at the ICC’s Netherlands headquarters, mark a watershed moment in global accountability efforts. Despite Duterte’s conspicuous absence from the proceedings, victims’ representatives maintain their resolve. “We’ve waited nine years for this day,” Pasco stated, acknowledging mixed emotions about the former leader’s non-appearance. “I would have wanted to see his reactions as the charges are being read.”
A coalition of Philippine human rights advocates has mobilized in support of the historic case. Former legislator Neri Colmenares, ICC-accredited counsel Kristina Conti, and leaders from Karapatan and Rise Up organizations have assembled in The Hague to monitor proceedings that could establish precedent for prosecuting state-sanctioned violence.
Parallel demonstrations unfolded across the Philippines as the trial commenced. In Manila, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza presided over a Mass for Justice and Truth at Our Lady of Remedies Church, declaring the drug war killings represented “not random acts of violence but rather a systematic policy that undermined the fundamental right to life.”
Security forces heightened alert status nationwide, with Philippine National Police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez confirming surveillance of potential gatherings related to the proceedings. The government’s measured response contrasts with previous administrations’ outright rejection of ICC jurisdiction, signaling possible diplomatic recalibration under current leadership.
The ICC’s involvement follows years of failed domestic accountability mechanisms and a 2025 Philippine Congressional investigation that first provided victims’ families opportunity to confront their accuser. While legal experts caution that confirmation hearings represent merely the preliminary phase in what could be a protracted judicial process, for families who have endured nearly a decade of seeking justice, this week represents their long-awaited day in court.