DUTERTE PANAGUTIN: Duterte’s words killed our loved ones – families of victims

[KARAPATAN Public Information]

PRESS RELEASE

24 February 2026

Reference: 

Duterte Panagutin Campaign Network, through Karapatan Public Information Desk, 0918-9790580

Duterte’s words killed our loved ones – families of victims

Families of the victims of the “war on drugs” said Duterte’s words did not only instill fear but led to the body count.

Llore Pasco, whose two sons were killed in May 2017, said, “Ang mga salita niya ang pumatay sa aming mga mahal sa buhay. Paulit-ulit niyang ipinag-utos na ubusin ang mga adik, at pinangakuan ng proteksyon ang mga pulis na sangkot sa mga pagpaslang.”

(Duterte’s words killed our loved ones. He repeatedly ordered the wiping out of drug addicts, and he promised protection to the police involved in the killings.)

Pasco is one of the representatives of Rise Up for Life and for Rights who attended the pre-trial hearing at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands.

On the second day of the confirmation of charges hearing, the prosecution played a clip of

Duterte joking about "extrajudicial killings" during a speech. A prosecutor said that at the time of the said video, almost 1,500 people had already been killed.

"Nakakapangilabot marinig ang boses ni Duterte. Hindi joke ang mawalan ng dalawang anak. Dapat siyang pagbayarin sa kanyang mga krimen,” Pasco added.

(It’s horrifying to hear Duterte’s voice. It’s no joke to lose two sons. He should pay for his crimes.)

Emily Soriano, who lost her 15-year-old son Angelito to the drug war, could not help but relive the trauma while one of the prosecutors described the drug war.

“[T]he police wrapped the child's head in packing tape. So no one could hear them scream. And then strangled the child to death with wire," a prosecutor said.

“Ramdam pa rin namin ang sakit pero nagpapasalamat din kami na sa wakas ay naririnig ng buong mundo ang aming mga kwento. Libo-libo kaming naghintay na dumating ang araw na ito,” Soriano said.

(We still feel pain but we are nevertheless grateful that the whole world could now hear our stories. There are thousands of us who waited for this day to come.)

Rubylin Litao, national coordinator of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, said the prosecution and the common legal representatives were able to show that the killings constitute "widespread and systematic attack" on the people of the Philippines.

The prosecution said that the killings were "highly organised, planned and coordinated" and without Duterte's "essential contribution", would not have occurred.

Litao said the “PRRD List,” which was rightfully called the death list, and the Philippine National Police’s memorandum ordering the police to neutralize drug suspects prove that Duterte implemented a bloody policy.

“We are hoping that the ICC will confirm all the charges against Duterte and the trial will proceed soon,” Litao said. #

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