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In its October 23, 2025 decision, the PTC held that the interpretation of Article 127, which outlines the withdrawal of a State Party from the Rome Statute, must be consistent with the overall object and purpose of the Statute—to "put an end to impunity and ensure that the most serious crimes do not go unpunished.”
The reality: Kaufman misrepresented both the ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) and the Philippine government, spreading disinformation that misled victims, media, and the public.
For the families left behind by the brutal anti-illegal drug campaign of Rodrigo Duterte, the prosecution of the International Criminal Court is ‘their court of last resort’. The recent postponement of the hearing about the confirmation of charges, for them, is a delaying tactic.
Ang pinal na hatol ng Kamara: Mandato ng Pag-aresto laban kay Duterte para sa crimes against humanity – murder bilang indirect co-perpetrator.
In a response to Duterte’s petition, Paolina Massed, principal counsel for the victims, said the former president’s interim release “would be hard to fathom for the victims who have clearly expressed the view that he should remain in detention at the Court pending the pre-trial proceedings.”
The prosecution said that it opposed Duterte’s interim release to the country cited by his lawyer saying that it is not an appropriate state to host the former president.
“The case at the ICC against former president [Rodrigo] Duterte and his co-conspirators is proof that the justice system in the Philippines has failed in rendering justice for the thousands of victims, a fact acknowledged by the local officials."
“While interim release mechanisms serve important human rights purposes, they must not supersede ensuring accountability of individuals accused of very serious crimes against humanity.”
“Age and health, while relevant, cannot outweigh the rights of victims to see the process of justice carried to its end. The facilities of the ICC, the conditions of which are vastly superior to those in Philippine prisons, can guarantee the humane treatment of Duterte while he is detained."
“Every election in the Philippines, Amnesty International offers a clear pathway for reform through legislation calling newly elected Senators and Congress representatives to put human rights at the center of policy making."
"These sanctions are not only directed at designated individuals, they also target all those who support the Court, including nationals and corporate entities of States Parties.”
Chanting calls for accountability, human rights activists marched from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the Scheveningen Prison, demanding justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, March 18.
“Online bashers have clearly demonstrated the continuing threat of a Duterte ‘hate’ network to families-victims as well as to witnesses of drug war killings."
The reason why Duterte withdrew from the ICC is to evade accountability. Now that he is in ICC’s custody, it is only right that the Philippines rejoin (ICC) for justice and accountability which is the long time call of the families of the victims of rights violations under the Duterte administration."
“There are mixed emotions among all the families of the victims. We hope that Bato and Go will be included as well. This is the day of reckoning for the powerful Duterte, who mercilessly took the lives of our loved ones."
The Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle submitted a copy of the findings and verdict of the recently concluded International People's Tribunal on the War Crimes of the U.S.-supported Marcos Jr. and Duterte governments in Brussels on May 17 to 18.
We don’t have a next move, that is the extent of our involvement with the ICC. That ends all our involvement with the ICC. Because we will no longer appeal, the appeal has failed and there is, in our view, nothing more that we can do in the government and so at this point we essentially are disengaging from any contact, from any communication with the ICC.”
“It is our prayer that the ICC investigation will ferret out truth and evidence that can bring justice and accountability for the killings of our loved ones."
“In the absence of persuasive reasons in support of ordering suspensive effect, the Appeals Chamber rejects the request. This is without prejudice to its eventual decision on the merits of the Philippines’ appeal against the Impugned Decision."
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