Families of victims of the war on drugs under former President Rodrigo Duterte, along with human rights advocates, gather at the National Council of Churches in the Philippines in Quezon City on September 16, 2026, to watch the livestream of the International Criminal Court’s third status conference. Jire Carreon, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Families of victims of the Duterte administration's war on drugs had mixed emotions as they watched former President Rodrigo Duterte appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) during a group viewing in Quezon City on Wednesday, September 16.
The families gathered at the National Council of Churches in the Philippines to watch the status conference in The Hague.
Some of them shouted when Duterte appeared on screen, marking the first time they had seen the former president in public since his initial appearance before the ICC on March 14, 2025.
READ: Rodrigo Duterte makes first in-person appearance at ICC
Duterte had not attended the court's proceedings in person since his initial appearance until the third status conference.
Llore Pasco, whose two sons were killed at the height of the Duterte administration's war on drugs, said they were surprised to see Duterte attend the proceedings.
“Nabigla pero siyempre masaya kami dahil humarap din siya at nakita namin na ayos din ang itsura niya. Tumaba nga e. Kaya inaasahan namin na kaya na niyang humarap sa trial,” Pasco said.
Dahlia Cuartero, mother of Jesus Cuartero III, who was also killed during the drug war, shared the same sentiment.
“Dininig ‘yong panalangin namin na sana malakas pa siya para mabigyan ng hustisya ang lahat ng mga biktima niya kaya masaya na nakita namin siyang malakas,” Cuartero said.
The families were joined during the group watch by their lawyers, church representatives, and human rights groups, including Karapatan, Duterte Panagutin Network, and Rise Up for Life and Rights.
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