Common legal counsel urges ICC to bring victims to 'light of truth, justice'

HAGUE, Netherlands — Common Legal Representative of the Victims (CLRV) Gilbert Andres put the spotlight on the casualties of the Duterte drug war as the Filipino lawyer delivered his final closing statement before judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I.

Andres presented Friday what he described as 10 rebuttals to the defense of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte during the historic pre-trial hearing on alleged crimes against humanity linked to Duterte's anti-drug campaign.

At the core of Andres' argument: the killings carried out during Duterte's anti-drug campaign were widespread, systematic, and indicative of a "common plan." He expressed belief that these defining traits of the drug war met the legal standard for crimes against humanity.

'Point-by-point' rebuttal

In an interview with GMA Integrated News, Andres said each of the defense's claims were carefully examined and answered, forming the backbone of the prosecution's rebuttals and final closing statement.

"Talagang pinag-aralan 'yung submission, para punto per punto naming sasagutin. Sa tingin po naming napalabas naming punto per punto laban sa kanya," Andres said.

(We really studied the submission, so that we can respond to it, point-by-point. We believe that we showed each of our arguments against him.)

READ — DAY IN COURT: ICC Hearings on the Charges vs. Duterte

He argued that the high rate of killings under the Duterte administration could not be explained as isolated police operations, but instead revealed a coordinated pattern of violence.

Central to the closing statement was the assertion that the scale and consistency of the murders point to an organized policy. Andres underscored that the element of an attack directed against a civilian population is explicitly present in the Duterte case, placing it squarely within the ICC's definition of crimes against humanity.

Victims at the center

After the final statement, Andres said the legal team felt relief that they were able to amplify the voices of victims amid what he called widespread misinformation.

"We're relieved that we are able to show the concerns of the victims kasi parang nawawala sila lalo na may mga falsehood at misinformation laban sa kanila. Gusto namin na maging victim-centered ang proceedings na ito. Talagang sila ang pinupuntirya nila," Andres said.

Families of victims killed during Duterte's drug war watch a live stream of the confirmation of charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte at the ICC, at the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation in Tayuman, Manila,  on Monday, February 23, 2026. DANNY PATA

(We're relieved that we are able to show the concerns of the victims because it was as if they were fading away from the discourse, especially with all the falsehood and misinformation against them. We want the proceedings to be victim-centered. They were really targeted by some.)

He stressed that the CLRV's role is to ensure the proceedings do not drift away from those who bore the brunt of the violence.

Fear, stigma, silence

Andres noted that the drug war victims come from close-knit, low-income communities where fear and stigma continue to silence families of those killed.

"Galing sila sa close-knit communities at low-income communities kung saan magkakakilala sila. Nandoon ang stigma na kung namatay ang kamag-anak nila, ay natokhang 'yan sila. Kaya parang 'di nila ma-share 'yung saloobin sa neighbors, lalo ngayon na tumaas ang fake news at disinformation," Andres said.

(They came from close-knit and low-income communities where they all know each other. There is that stigma when a kin dies, the victim died because of tokhang. So the surviving kin were unable to share their sentiments to neighbors, especially when fake news and disinformation became more prevalent.)

"Kaya 'yun ang panawagan naming sa chamber na ilabas sila sa liwanag ng katotohanan at hustisya," he said.

(So that's our call to the chamber, bring the victims to the light of truth and justice.)

Courtesy: ICC-CPI

Throughout the four-day hearing, Andres said the legal team prioritized the safety and emotional state of the victims.

"Una, talagang security nila ang aming tinitignan. Ikalawa, kinakausap at kinakamusta namin sila kung kaya araw-araw... Ikatlo, 'yung reaksyon nila at anong naging saloobin nila. Generally, ang saloobin nila ay joyful sila dahil nag-start na ang unang hakbang tungo sa hustisya," Andres said.

(First, we really considered their safety. Secondly, we talked to them to asked if they are okay with the daily proceedings... Thirdly, we asked about their reactions and sentiments. Generally, they felt joyful because they were able to take the first step towards justice.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News