Victims’ kin oppose Duterte’s interim release

Families of victims in the controversial war on drugs strongly opposed former President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release from detention in The Hague, warning that granting such privilege could endanger their lives and destabilize the country.

In a pleading dated June 25, 2025, Paolina Massidda, principal counsel of the Office of Public Counsel for Victims, urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I to deny Duterte’s appeal and keep him in custody as trial proceedings advance.

“The release of Mr Duterte will not only be a great destabilizing factor to the volatile security situation in the country as a whole, but will pose a direct and significant danger to the victims who have demonstrated courage in applying to participate in the present proceedings in order to contribute to the search for the truth, despite risks of being threatened or otherwise stigmatised,” the victims emphasized in their submission to the ICC.

They also asserted that Duterte’s continued detention is crucial to securing his appearance at trial.

Responding to the development, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla assured the public that the government is committed to protecting witnesses who are set to testify against Duterte and the bloody anti-drug campaign that claimed thousands of lives in what human rights groups have labeled extrajudicial killings.

“They will get full protection while they remain under Philippine jurisdiction,” Remulla vowed.

He revealed that the ICC had previously coordinated with the Department of Justice’s witness protection program, requesting support in safeguarding key witnesses.

“We will protect the witnesses, whatever it takes to protect the witnesses, we will do,” Remulla told the media.

He emphasized that witness security is critical to the prosecution’s ability to build its case, saying, “The prosecution will rely on these witnesses to prove their case.”

While stressing that the witnesses would be shielded only until their formal handover to the ICC, Remulla reiterated the government’s duty to assist.

“It’s also our obligation to help. Because if we can protect witnesses for other cases, why not in this case?” he said.

“Ang mahalaga, iyong testigo makarating ng maayos ang kanyang testimonya, para malaman natin kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa mga panahon na iyon,” he added.

Asked about the number of cooperating witnesses, Remulla said the department is in touch with “three or four” individuals willing to testify against the former president.