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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte's confirmation of charges hearing a 'historic' feat—Hontiveros

Duterte's confirmation of charges hearing a 'historic' feat—Hontiveros

Published Feb 24, 2026 04:36 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Risa Hontiveros branded as "historic" former president Rodrigo Duterte's confirmation of charges hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
FORMER President Duterte (AP)
FORMER President Duterte (AP)

Senator Risa Hontiveros branded as “historic” former president Rodrigo Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Hontiveros made the remark after the first day of the hearing in The Hague, Netherlands where the former leader is facing crimes against humanity case for the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during his administration’s war on drugs. 

“(It was a) historic day. I'm sure lalo na sa mga pamilya nabalo, naulila dung sa tens of thousands na pinatay na biktima ng so-called war on drugs, biktima ng extra-judicial killings (I'm sure it is especially to the families who were widowed, orphaned due to the tens of thousands who were killed as victims of the so-called war on drugs, victims of extra-judicial killings),” Hontiveros said during an interview.

Asked if she is confident about the prosecution’s success against the former president, the senator said she is upbeat about it since it is just the first day of the confirmation hearings.

The senator also noted that the confirmation hearing coincides with the country’s celebration of the 40th anniversary of EDSA People Power Revolution.

“So, parang isang bagong yugto, isang bagong mukha ng tuloy-tuloy na pagpapahayag ng kapangyarihan ng mamamayan (So, it feels like a new phase, a new face of the continued expression of people's power),” she said. 

“The price they have paid para mag-survive hanggang sa araw na ito at para makarating dun sa Hague na maparinig dun sa mastermind nung suffering nila yung ganito mga proseso (The price they have paid to survive to this day and to get to The Hague to hear from the mastermind behind their suffering about these processes),” she pointed out.

“So it's historic that it has started, and at this time umabot sa (it reached the) International Tribunal. And pinagdadasal ko lang talaga ang isang makatatohanan at makatarungang outcome lalo na para sa mga pamilya ng biktima ng EJK (And I really just pray for a realistic and just outcome especially for the families of victims of the extra judicial killings),” she stressed.

Related Tags

DUTERTE ICC Risa Hontiveros war on drugs
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