Victims’ families find relief as Duterte pre-trial hearing ends

After almost 10 years of grief, fear, and waiting, families of those killed in the bloody war on drugs finally felt a sense of relief as the pre-trial hearing for the confirmation of charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte concluded on Friday at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

For many of them, the confirmation of charges hearing was not just a legal proceeding but a long-overdue moment of recognition, where their pain, stories, and loss were finally heard.

'Why should we show mercy?'

Llore Pasco, the mother of two sons killed during the drug war, said she feels no pity for Duterte even as he sits in prison on charges of crimes against humanity, stressing that he showed none to the families torn apart by the campaign.

“Noong nag-utos siya na patayin ang mga mahal namin sa buhay, wala namang awa doon. Talagang nag-utos siya na patayin ang mga adik at mga salot sa lipunan. So bakit kami maaawa ngayon na andito na siya sa korte?” Pasco said.

(When he ordered the killing of our loved ones, there was no mercy. He actually ordered the killing of drug addicts and the scourge of society. So why should we feel pity now that he is here in court?)

Pasco recalled how victims’ families were stripped of dignity and rights during the height of the drug war.

“Inalisan nila kami ng karapatan—parang numbers lang kami. Lagi niyang sinasabi na walang pinatay, na walang pinag-utos. Eh ano yung libo-libong namatay kung hindi sa kanya nanggaling ang order?” she said.

(Our rights were taken away—we were just numbers. He always said that no one was killed, that no one was ordered. So what are the thousands who died if the order didn't come from him?)

Satisfied

Pasco said the prosecution’s arguments revived the families’ hope.

“Nabuhayan kami ng loob kasi binangga ng prosecutor iyon na talagang pabor sa aming mga biktima. Na-satisfy kami, pero maghihintay pa rin tayo sa desisyon ng korte,” she added.

(We are pleased that the prosecutor made arguments in support of the victims. We are satisfied, but we will still wait for the court's decision.)

Sheera Escudero, sister of one of the victims, said the families felt seen and heard throughout the pre-trial hearings.

“Para sa amin, talagang na-echo nila ang boses namin. Na-retell nila ang stories ng mga pamilya,” Escudero said, noting that the families remain confident in the strength of the prosecution’s evidence.

(For us, they really echoed our voices. They retold the stories of the families.)

Escudero also underscored the challenges endured by families just to be present at the hearings.

“Hindi po naging madali ang pagpunta ng mga pamilya—from fundraising, sa mahabang biyahe, sa pag-adjust sa timezone at pagbabago ng klima. May ilang pamilya ang nagkasakit. Lahat iyon handa naming tiisin para masaksihan ang confirmation of charges dahil maraming taon na naming ito hinintay,” she said.

(It wasn't easy for the families to come here—from fundraising to the long journey to adjusting to the time zone and climate. Some families got sick. We're willing to endure all of that to witness the confirmation of charges because we have been waiting for this for many years.)

Pasco said the families are now placing their trust in the court to decide the outcome of the confirmation of charges.

“Sana mapag-aralan at tingnan mabuti ang mga argumento... Siya ang nakakulong, pero kami ang totoong biktima,” she said.

(I hope the arguments will be studied carefully... He is the one in prison, but we are the real victims.)

“Kami ang nakaranas ng panlalait, pambubully, at sinabihang ‘They deserve to die.’ Ito na ang umpisa, at sana magtuloy-tuloy na."

(We were the ones who experienced insults and bullying and were told, 'They deserve to die.’ This is the beginning, and I hope it will move forward.) —VBL, GMA Integrated News