On Day One of confirmation of charges hearing

[KARAPATAN Public Information]

Duterte Panagutin Campaign Network

PRESS STATEMENT

24 February 2026

Note: KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay is in The Hague with Karapatan as part of the Duterte Panagutin Campaign Network.

On Day One of confirmation of charges hearing

Today, Day One of the confirmation of charges hearing, is a good, historic day.

The Prosecution and the Legal Representatives of Victims have effectively illustrated the unequivocal point of the whole case against Duterte - that he has engineered the mass murder of poor Filipinos and stripped thousands of rights and dignity to engender a climate of fear, of impunity, of a dictatorship.

Indeed, even with their opening statements, the Prosecutor and the LRV had already laid out the significance and importance that the charges of murder and attempted murder be confirmed, as doing otherwise leads to generational impunity of irreparable levels. The principal role of Duterte who, even as Mayor, had the power to give “clearance” to kill, has been firmly established.

On the other hand, Duterte’s defense, after losing one motion after another, has become even more exposed as empty as ever. The defense strategy of rage-baiting and recycling of lies betray the obvious - that Duterte’s crimes are abominable and indefensible. Defending a vocal mass murderer and dictator is indeed hard, especially if facts and evidence are clearly more than substantial.

Sa madaling salita, asar-talo si Duterte. Duterte’s main defense - that his public pronouncements ordering and inciting murder in the drug war do not constitute criminal intent - is such a pittance of a court defense line that essentially strengthens the case against him. It is clear that Duterte ordered the killings and that he is cocky about it.

Which is why even on Day One of the hearing, the bases of the charges against him for his crimes against humanity are firmly established. It is Day One - a day that shows how demagoguery, lies and bluster once again fail to bury the truth on Duterte’s crimes. Confirm the charges, hold Duterte accountable now.

(Photo from Cristina Palabay)

Reference: 

Atty. Jojo Lacanilao, convenor, Duterte Panagutin Campaign Network, +63 917 812 8262

---------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publi...@karapatan.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------

2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg.,
#1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District

Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101

Telefax: (+63 2) 7090 8183

Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties.  It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.  It was established in 1995.