On that May morning in 2017, Crisanto—a 34-year-old father of four—had left early to obtain a security guard license. Soon after, his 31-year-old brother Juan Carlos, who worked part-time collecting utility bills, followed him out the door. Neither of them ever returned home.

The following day, Llore recounted to Al Jazeera how she and other family members were stunned to see a TV news report announcing that her sons had been killed, with the police alleging they were involved in a robbery. It took a full week and a fee of $1,500 for her to recover their bodies from the morgue.

After the funerals, Llore’s life was marked by prolonged grief and the fading hope for justice. Recently, however, she was deeply moved upon hearing that former President Rodrigo Duterte had been arrested over his harsh drug war.

"I felt extremely nervous and scared, but also hopeful," Llore said. Working part-time as a food vendor and massage therapist, her emotions overflowed as she shared with Al Jazeera, "My eyes filled with tears. After all these years of waiting, justice might finally be within reach."

For Llore—who is also a key member of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, a group of mothers and wives seeking accountability for the victims of the drug war—the arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) represents a final hope for justice. She had long believed that finding justice for her sons in the Philippines was nearly impossible.

On Tuesday, Interpol executed the ICC’s arrest warrant against Duterte at Manila airport, charging him with “crimes against humanity” for his role in the deaths of thousands of suspected drug users and dealers during his leadership. Later that day, the Philippine government permitted Duterte’s transfer to the ICC in The Hague.

According to police records, more than 7,000 people were killed in official anti-drug operations during Duterte’s term from 2016 to 2022. However, human rights organizations claim the actual number might be closer to 30,000, including victims of gunmen later identified as undercover police officers.

Duterte arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday afternoon, where he was officially transferred to the ICC’s jurisdiction. Amid protests and criticism from his supporters, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr stated that the unexpected arrest complied with the country’s commitments to Interpol.

This rewritten version maintains the original facts while using clear, simple language that is SEO friendly and entirely original

Extrajudicial killings

Christine Pascual was working at her hair salon when she learned about Duterte’s arrest.

She recalled how a client asked why she was crying during the haircut. Pascual explained to Al Jazeera that the news brought back painful memories of her late son, 17-year-old Joshua Pascual Laxamana.

She described the deep sorrow she felt from the time Joshua was killed until she began fighting for justice.

Joshua, a professional online gamer, was returning home from a tournament in northern Philippines when police shot him dead.

Official reports claimed that he fired at officers and tried to escape on a motorcycle. However, his family insists that Joshua never knew how to ride a motorcycle and has always maintained that he never used drugs or handled any weapons, as alleged by the police.

For years, Pascual has expressed her disappointment over the lack of progress in her son’s case and other extrajudicial killings.

She said that the news of Duterte’s arrest came as a surprise and brought a sense of relief, knowing that he would soon have to answer for his actions in court. However, she also acknowledged that the two police officers involved in Joshua’s death are unlikely to be prosecuted.

My family will never be the same because Joshua is now gone, she added.

Unbearable pain

Luzviminda Siapo, whose son became another victim of the drug war, shared that she felt a measure of relief when she heard that Duterte was taken into custody and sent to The Hague.

I see Duterte being detained and taken to a prison in The Hague, and it feels like a small step toward justice, Siapo told Al Jazeera. For all the harm he has done and the lives he has ruined, I can only wonder what consequences he will face.

Siapo stressed that Duterte should be grateful he is only facing arrest and will receive a fair trial at the International Criminal Court—a fairness that was denied to her late son.

Her son, Raymart Siapo, was just 19 years old when masked gunmen kidnapped him and shot him twice in the head. His body was later found in a village near Manila Bay.

News reports at the time revealed that Raymart had been involved in a conflict with a neighbor, which led to false claims that he was selling marijuana. The day after these accusations surfaced, unknown attackers forced him onto a motorcycle and drove him to a nearby area. There, they ordered him to get off and run for his life. However, due to a congenital condition that affected his feet, he was unable to escape and was fatally shot.

I feel an overwhelming grief for losing my child to the drug war, Siapo said to Al Jazeera.

This rewritten version retains the original meaning while using simple language and an SEO-friendly style, making it suitable for website content.

Children as collateral damage

Family members of those who lost their lives in the drug war gathered on Wednesday at a press conference organized by the Rise Up group and the National Union of People’s Lawyers.

During the event, Emily Soriano, whose 15‐year-old son Angelito was killed, expressed her mixed feelings. Although she welcomed the arrest of former President Duterte, she demanded that others be held accountable—especially those who directly ordered the police operation that led to her child’s death.

Soriano specifically mentioned Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who once led police operations during Duterte’s drug war. Dela Rosa has often defended the drug war, even remarking that children caught in crossfire were simply collateral damage and that sh happens. According to Soriano, officers like dela Rosa are just as responsible as Duterte for the tragedies.

Good for Duterte that he is getting due process, yet he remains comfortable, Soriano said tearfully. But what about my son? His remains have been lying in the cemetery for over eight years.

She stressed that her son was not involved with drugs and was only present at a location targeted by the police. In that same operation, six others were killed, including two teenagers and a pregnant woman.

It is heart-wrenching to lose a son who was never a drug user, Soriano said. Many wrongly assumed he was addicted, but they do not know the truth.

Soriano also criticized Duterte’s anti-drug policy, arguing that it was effectively a war against the poor.

Later on Wednesday at The Hague, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan welcomed Duterte’s arrest. Khan said the action means a lot to the victims and demonstrated that international law is stronger than some believe. He emphasized that partnerships are key to upholding the rule of law and executing warrants.

Khan also mentioned that his office has been investigating the situation in the Philippines for several years. The investigation covers alleged crimes against humanity not only during Duterte’s presidency but also from his time as mayor of Davao. He concluded by reminding everyone that despite the arrest, Mister Duterte is presumed innocent.

This rewritten version maintains the original details and facts while using clear, simple language suitable for SEO and copyright-free content.