Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs), alongside human rights advocates, have filed a disbarment complaint against former President Rodrigo Duterte with the Supreme Court.
The complainants, carrying placards that labeled Duterte as “unfit to be a lawyer,” cited his public admissions of involvement in killings, as well as his alleged disregard for due process during his tenure.
Calls for Accountability
Atty. Vicente Jaime Topacio, one of the complainants, criticized Duterte’s actions, claiming he belittled women, bypassed legal processes, and sanctioned killings.
“We have all witnessed his behavior. This person has no right to be a lawyer in our country,” Topacio said.
Llore Pasco, whose sons were killed during an anti-drug operation in 2017, urged the Supreme Court to grant justice to victims’ families.
“Fair justice is all we ask for, and we hope the SC will recognize our dignity as individuals,” she said.
Rosenda Lemita, mother of a victim of the 2021 Bloody Sunday raids, stressed the importance of ensuring no one is above the law, not even Duterte.
Duterte’s Response to Drug War Accountability
In October 2024, Duterte testified before Congress, declaring he would take “full legal responsibility” for police actions during his administration’s war on drugs.
“I alone take responsibility for everything the police did under my orders. Imprison me, not them,” Duterte said, maintaining that his policies aimed to protect Filipinos.
Official government records attribute at least 6,200 deaths to anti-drug operations from June 2016 to November 2021. However, human rights groups estimate the death toll could be as high as 30,000, including unreported killings.
Panelo’s Defense
Former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo dismissed the disbarment case, arguing that Duterte has not been convicted of any crime. “There’s no basis for this disbarment,” Panelo said, adding that Duterte’s controversial remarks were merely “expressions of outrage.”
Link to Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Cases
Karapatan Secretary General Tina Palabay revealed that the disbarment case followed Vice President Sara Duterte’s announcement that her father would serve as her legal counsel in her ongoing impeachment cases.
The complainants, however, refrained from disclosing specific details about the case due to the sub judice rule.
Seeking Justice
Families and advocates remain steadfast in their quest for accountability. “We won’t stop fighting,” Pasco said, calling on the Supreme Court to uphold justice and ensure Duterte is held accountable for his actions.