Victims’ families, Duterte supporters gather in The Hague

Family members of drug war victims and supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte gathered in The Hague, Netherlands, as the International Criminal Court (ICC) pre-trial chamber began the Confirmation of Charges hearings against him.

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s "24 Oras" report on Monday, relatives of the victims marched toward the ICC and held a program despite the extreme cold, while also following the hearing via livestream.

Duterte supporters, who secured a permit, held their own program outside the ICC with a cardboard standee of the former president.

During a brief program at lunchtime, they said their gathering was not a protest, but a demonstration of support for the former president, and expressed hope that the ICC would dismiss the charges against him.

Meanwhile, relatives of alleged victims called for the ICC to confirm the charges and hold Duterte accountable, along with any co-perpetrators involved in extrajudicial killings during his administration’s anti-drug operations.

The gatherings are expected to continue until the hearings conclude at 3 p.m. The Hague time.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/MCG, GMA Integrated News