​Families of EJK victims: Whatever Kaufman says, ‘tokhang’ meant killings

[KARAPATAN Public Information]

Press Release

27 February 2026

Families of EJK victims: Whatever Kaufman says, ‘tokhang’ meant killings

Families of victims of Duterte’s ‘drug war’ lambasted Nicholas Kaufman’s lame arguments during the third day of the pre-trial hearing at the International Criminal Court.

Kaufman claimed that Duterte did not order the police to kill, saying “neutralization” does not mean killing but other acts to subdue a suspect. 

“Neutralization o mas kilala nating ‘tokhang’ operations ay nangangahulugang pagpaslang. Kahit mga bata sa maralitang komunidad sa Pilipinas, alam ang ibig sabihin ng tokhang,” Llore Pasco, one of the representatives of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, said. 

(Neutralization or more commonly known as ‘tokhang’ operations meant killings. Even the kids in the urban poor communities in the Philippines know that.)

“Libo-libo kaming mga kaanak ang nagluluksa at humihingi ng hustisya. Hindi kami guni-guni. Kami ang patunay sa madugong patakaran ni Duterte. Hindi nila iyan mapapasubalian,” Pasco, who lost two sons to the drug war in 2017, added.

(There are thousands of us, relatives who grieve and yearn for justice. We are not a figment of imagination. We are proof of Duterte’s bloody policy. They cannot debunk this fact.)

Pasco, who was present at the ICC on February 26, said that Kaufman’s defense is not at all convincing. “Ni wala siyang binanggit na ebidensya. Puro lang siya patutsada sa midya at sa mga kalaban ni Duterte sa pulitika. Alam ni Kaufman na talo na sila sa kaso kaya nililihis niya ang usapin.”

(He did not even cite any evidence. All he did was spew out tirades against the media and against Duterte’s political opponents. Kaufman knows that they are losing it that’s why he is diverting from the main issue.)

Rubylin Litao, national coordinator of Rise Up for Rights and for Life, noted that Kaufman is speaking to DDS (die hard Duterte supporters) instead of defending his client before the ICC judges. “Kaufman has nothing credible to present to the court hence he resorted to theatrics. Duterte cannot be exonerated from implementing a policy of widespread, systematic killings,” Litao said.

Sheerah Escudero, whose brother Ephraim, was killed during the peak of tokhang operations, said they are looking forward to the confirmation of charges against Duterte. “We can’t wait for the trial to begin. Despite the attacks and the challenges, we will continue the fight for justice.”

Escudero, Pasco and Litao became the targets of an AI-assisted disinformation campaign these past few days. 

Escudero called on the public not to be deceived by DDS trolls and open their eyes to the truth about Duterte’s fake ‘war on drugs.’ #

Reference: Deaconess Rubylin Litao, Coordinator, Rise Up for Life and for Rights
<rise.u...@gmail.com> +639983489307

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