Families of drug war victims hail ICC rejection of Duterte interim release
MANILA, Philippines — Grief temporarily turned to cheers and sighs of relief on Friday, November 28, as families of drug war victims welcomed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to reject former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bid for interim release.
The ICC Appeals Chamber unanimously dismissed all three grounds of Duterte’s appeal, upholding the Pre-Trial Chamber I’s ruling. The lower court said the defense had "failed to demonstrate" that the chamber erred in assessing Duterte’s financial and political influence to evade trial.
Human rights groups, along with families and friends of extrajudicial killing victims, gathered Friday at the University of the Philippines Law Center to watch the ICC’s hearing on Duterte’s request for temporary release.
When organizers from Karapatan, Rise Up for Life and for Rights, and the National Union of People’s Lawyers asked if they were happy with the outcome, families responded with a resounding "Yes!" each time.
"Masarap ba sa feeling? (Does it feel good?)," former Commission on Human Rights commissioner Roberto Cadiz asked, to which he later said that "at least justice is moving forward."
In a statement, the NUPL also welcomed the decision, stressing how Duterte's continued detention is necessary for victims and witnesses "to feel safe coming forward."
"By large, it is an assurance that he cannot simply intimidate persons, interfere with the evidence, or disrupt proceedings," the families' legal counsels said.
How victims' families reacted
For Dahlia Cuartero, the ICC Appeals Chamber’s decision felt like the perfect birthday gift for her child Jesus "Daboy" Cuartero, who was killed in 2019. She thanked God for giving them a glimpse of the justice they have long been fighting for.
She also wished Duterte a long life so he could fully feel the pain he had inflicted upon her family. "Sa dami dami niyang pinatay, talagang 'yun ang pinapangalanin namin. (Considering how many lives he’s taken, that’s precisely the name we give him.)"
Sheera Escudero, sister of Ephraim Escudero, who first went missing and later found dead in 2017, expressed her gratitude to the judges who rejected Duterte’s appeal, saying their decision clearly shows that there were no valid grounds for his release.
"Hindi siya karapatdapat na makalaya — 'yung lawak ng network, 'yung kakayahan niya, 'yung financial means niya na makatakas — talagang napatunayan 'yan," she said. (He does not deserve to be free — his wide network, his capabilities, his financial means to escape — all of that has truly been proven)
In September 2017, Ephraim had been missing for just five days when his family saw a news clipping showing the bodies of two unidentified men found near their home in Laguna. They recognized Ephraim — his hands tied, his body wrapped in packaging tape and covered in gunshot wounds.
'Trial must go on'
Sheera said the ICC’s decision proves that Duterte remains a threat to the safety and security of families like hers, who have long faced harassment and harm from both Duterte supporters and online trolls.
Like Sheera, victims’ families and human rights advocates understand that the trial has only just begun. But they take comfort in this moment, seeing it as a victory in their ongoing struggle for justice.
"The trial must go on, it must continue hanggang sa mapatunayan na may sala si Duterte dahil kailangan po natin ng justice. Kailangan ng pamilya ng biktima ng justice at hindi kami matatahimik hanggat hindi namin nakakamit ang hustisya," she said.
(The trial must continue until Duterte is proven guilty, because we need justice. The families of the victims will not remain silent until justice is served.)
Looking ahead, the NUPL said victims and human rights advocates are awaiting the rescheduled confirmation of charges hearing in 2026.
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