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Cristina Chi - Philstar.com
May 14, 2025 | 5:58pm
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on a screen with his lawyer Salvador Medialdea (L) in the courtroom during his first appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charge of crimes against humanity over his deadly crackdown on narcotics, in The Hague on March 14, 2025. The 79-year-old, the first ex-Asian head of state to face charges at the ICC, followed by videolink during a short hearing to inform him of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, as well as his rights as a defendant. Duterte stands accused of the crime against humanity of murder over his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups said killed thousands.
AFP / Peter Dejong / Pool
MANILA, Philippines — A lawyer for drug war victims shrugged off remarks that former President Rodrigo Duterte's landslide win in Davao City amounts to a public vindication as "elections do not erase nor forgive crimes against humanity."
Kristina Conti, International Criminal Court assistant to counsel, said on Wednesday, May 14, that Duterte's sweeping electoral victory merely confirms Davao City remains a "stronghold of the Duterte dynasty."
"The elections do not erase nor forgive the commission of crimes against humanity in the Philippines by Duterte and his co-conspirators," Conti told Philstar.com.
"The people of Davao City cannot do that on behalf of all the victims of the 'war on drugs' and other victims of Duterte nationwide," she added.
Conti's remarks come after Duterte's ICC legal counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, said the city's election results demonstrated "overwhelming support" for Duterte and "total rejection of the Marcos government's vain attempt to stamp out his legacy."
Partial and unofficial results show the Duterte patriarch poised to win the Davao City mayoral race. If declared winner, Duterte will be serving his eighth term as mayor.
The former president can still be proclaimed as the winner of Davao City's mayoral elections even if he is currently detained at the ICC, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Duterte was arrested on March 11 after the Philippine government complied with an alert by the Interpol.
Reacting to Duterte's impending victory, Kaufman said yesterday that the votes cast in favor of the former president indicate a "clear desire for the former president's return to the Philippines."
But Conti pointed out that any electoral victory clinched by Duterte in the Philippines "will not hinder, hasten, or stop the ICC proceedings."
"Three generations of Dutertes have been voted into office by the people of Davao City. Rodrigo Duterte himself seeks to round off his service as mayor of the city to a quarter of a century," Conti said.
The lawyer for drug war victims said it is "worrisome" that voters in Davao City backed the candidacy of someone who, if elected, would likely be unable to perform their mandate.
"It reflects a lack of state capacity and a weak rule of law. Possibly also a poor understanding of the processes," she said.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said it is up to the Department of the Interior and Local Government to determine who will perform the functions of a mayor while Duterte remains detained at the ICC.
Two surveys conducted by different polling firms have indicated that the Filipino public supports an investigation into Duterte's drug war.
In a noncommissioned survey held from March 31 to April 7, public opinion research firm WR Numero found that three in five Filipinos believe it is important for Duterte to face the case against him at the ICC.
Meanwhile, a survey by the Social Weather Stations before Duterte's arrest shows most Filipinos believe Duterte should be held accountable for his drug war. This survey did not ask the respondents their preferred process of holding the former president accountable.
