Members of the House minority bloc were in a bit of a celebratory mood Thursday, April 23 after learning that The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) decided to confirm all charges against the detained former a Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.

"Today we celebrate even as we grieve for those we lost to Duterte’s madness," Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said in a post on X.

"The charges against Duterte have been finally confirmed for crimes that he should have been punished for a long time ago. The wheels of justice should have not taken this long to turn. But we take what we are dealt with for the sake of the rule of law," said the senior deputy minority leader.

Despite this delay, De Lima said Thursday was "still a great day for the fighters against impunity and state-sponsored violence".

"Tagumpay rin ito para sa pamilya ng mga biktima, sa mga naulila na matagal nang naghahangad ng hustisya (This is also a victory for the families of the victims, for the bereaved who have long yearned for justice)," noted the former senator and Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary.

The Makabayan bloc--composed of Deputy Minority Leader ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, and Assistant Minority Leader Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co--welcomed the decision of ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I.

"The chamber found substantial grounds to believe [Duterte] is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the so-called 'war on drugs,'" they said.

The militant trio called the development at the United Nation's (UN)-backed court "a critical step forward for victims and survivors who have long been denied justice in the Philippines".

"For years, families of those killed have faced intimidation, harassment, and institutional stonewalling, while perpetrators were rewarded with impunity," Makabayan said.

The group said the confirmation of charges "affirms that the scale and pattern of killings cannot be dismissed as isolated incidents, and that command responsibility and accountability at the highest levels must be confronted".

"Makabuluhan ang hakbang na ito para sa mga pamilyang nawalan ng mahal sa buhay. Hindi dapat mabaon sa takot at katahimikan ang libu-libong pagpatay. Hindi dapat manatiling untouchable ang mga nasa tuktok na nag-utos, nag-udyok, at nagpalaganap ng kultura ng pamamaslang," they solons said.

(This step is meaningful for families who have lost loved ones. The thousands of killings must not be buried in fear and silence. Those at the top who ordered, incited, and spread the culture of killing must not remain untouchable.)

They went on to underscore that a fair and impartial trial must proceed without obstruction, political interference, or retaliatory actions against witnesses, families, and human rights defenders.

"The Philippine government must cooperate with international justice mechanisms and ensure protection and support for victims participating in the process," they added.