Kian delos Santos’ uncle, EJK victims' kin monitor Duterte's ICC hearing

The families of drug war victims gathered together to watch day one of the confirmation hearing on the crimes against humanity of former President Rodrigo Duterte in The Hague, Netherlands. 

According to Jonathan Andal’s report in “24 Oras” on Monday, members of “Program Paghilom” - a group of relatives of drug war victims - wore white shirts as they closely listened to the proceedings in Tayuman, Manila. 

There were lawyers and journalists present to explain what had been discussed so far in the hearing. 

There were also kin of other drug war victims who gathered in Caloocan to monitor the livestream of the hearings. Among them is the uncle of Kian delos Santos, a 17-year-old student killed by three policemen in 2017. 

With the confirmation of hearing charges already kicked off, some feel hopeful about the progress of the case before the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

Nanette Castillo, whose son was shot dead by a riding-in-tandem in Tondo, Manila in 2017, said that she is expecting to get justice soon. 

“Very excited po kami, hindi lang ako, pati pa yung mga ibang nanay na kasama  ko ngayon,” she said.

(We are very excited, not just me, but also the other mothers who are with me today.) 

“Ang tagal na namin hinihintay ito eh kasi ito na po iyong sa tingin namin ay umpisa ng papunta sa hustisya po. Parang ano eh, one day at a time, sa loob po ng walong taon, siyam na taong paghihintay namin, may naumpisahan na.” 

(We have been waiting for this for so long because we feel this is the beginning of the path toward justice. It’s like, one day at a time—after eight or nine years of waiting, something has finally started.) 

Meanwhile, other relatives are still mad at Duterte for the bloody killings. 

“Masakit po yung ginawa sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte dahil binoto pa po namin siya. Dapat lang siyang makulong para pagdusahan niya, para makaganti man lang kami sa kanya,” said Maria Deparine. 

(What President Duterte did to us is painful because we even voted for him. He deserves to be imprisoned so he can suffer for it, so we can at least get justice against him.) 

“Si Duterte ang taong wala ang kinatatakutan sa dami ng pinapatay niya. Talagang magbabayad siya, yung lang ang alam ko, na may Diyos talaga,” said Aurora dela Cruz. 

(Duterte is a person who fears nothing, given the number of people he has killed. He will truly pay—that is all I know—because there really is a God.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News