House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Leila de Lima said the ongoing ICC hearing on charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte highlights the failure of the Philippines to hold top officials accountable for alleged crimes committed during the “war on drugs.” She made the remarks in a privileged speech on February 23, 2026, questioning why the case had to be brought before an international court instead of being handled locally.
De Lima explained that under international law’s principle of complementarity, the ICC intervenes only when a country cannot conduct sincere and effective investigations and prosecutions on its own. She argued that, during the drug war, domestic probes did not genuinely investigate high‑ranking officials or policy makers, focusing instead on lower‑level officers.
She added that insisting on purely local trials, after years without meaningful action against top figures, ignores international safeguards. If the Philippines truly believed in justice and the rule of law, de Lima said, it should have filed charges against Duterte earlier.
De Lima emphasized that Duterte’s ICC case is about justice for victims, not political agenda, and should ensure evidence is tested and rights protected. She said accountability must extend beyond statistics to honor the suffering of victims and their families.
The article also noted that Duterte is currently detained at the ICC in The Hague on suspicion of crimes against humanity linked to his drug war, and that some local lawmakers — including his nephew — view the proceedings as political rather than about justice.
