ICC Pressure Mounts as Families of Duterte Drug War Victims Demand Justice

Families of victims killed during the Philippines’ controversial war on drugs renewed calls for justice after dramatic scenes unfolded inside the Philippine Senate involving Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. The former police chief, who played a central role in ex-President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, reportedly took refuge inside the Senate to avoid arrest before later leaving the premises.

The tension came after the International Criminal Court (ICC) unsealed an arrest warrant against dela Rosa for alleged crimes against humanity tied to thousands of deaths linked to Duterte’s anti-drug crackdown launched in 2016. Victims’ families said the incident exposed the unequal justice system in the Philippines, where influential politicians appear protected while ordinary citizens suffer.

Llore Pasco, whose two sons were killed during police anti-drug operations in 2017, said seeing dela Rosa receive political protection highlighted the stark contrast between how authorities treated suspected drug users and powerful officials. According to Pasco, poor families were denied due process while many victims were killed without investigation.

Human rights groups estimate that the number of deaths linked to Duterte’s drug war far exceeds the government’s official figure of over 6,000 suspects killed in police operations. Despite widespread criticism from international organizations and local activists, only a limited number of cases have led to convictions in Philippine courts.

The Senate unrest escalated after dela Rosa urged supporters online to gather as reports surfaced that law enforcement officers were preparing to arrest him. Gunshots were later heard inside the Senate complex, causing panic among people in the area.

For relatives of drug war victims, the ICC investigation has become a rare source of hope. Many believe international intervention is the only path toward accountability for killings connected to Duterte’s war on drugs. Victims’ families continue to demand justice, insisting that addiction should be treated as a public health issue rather than answered with violence.