Two grieving wives told DW why they hope to see former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte suffering in prison, following his detention for a pre-trial hearing at the International Criminal Court. If sufficient evidence is found, he could face charges of crimes against humanity.
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00:00Gina Serrano's husband was one of thousands of people killed during Rodrigo Duterte's
00:23violent drug war in the Philippines.
00:26Following Duterte's rise from mayor to president, it is unknown how many people were killed
00:32during his violent clampdown between 2011 and 2019.
00:38Estimates range from 6,000 to up to 30,000 deaths.
00:44But on March 11, 2025, Duterte was detained and taken to the International Criminal Court
00:51in the Netherlands.
00:53Prosecutors accused Duterte of involvement as an indirect co-perpetrator in multiple
01:00murders amounting to a crime against humanity.
01:05While he waits for his pre-trial hearing date in September, families of those who lost loved
01:11ones told DW how they were feeling.
01:23Duterte's war on drugs targeted cartels and dealers, but also addicts and others.
01:30Many were killed without trial.
01:47Human rights groups have accused Duterte of giving the police powers to act with little
01:52consequences leading to excessive violence.
01:57Purisima's husband was killed by the police in front of her and their grandchildren after
02:02officers barged into their home while they were asleep.
02:18Four months before her husband was killed, he was arrested on accusations of carrying
02:38drugs.
02:39At the time, no formal complaint was filed.
02:43But the family had paid Php 8,000 or USD 140 for his release.
02:51Both Gina and Purisima have found strength by spending time together with other families
02:56of drug war victims and their supporters.
03:00We hope Duterte remains in detention and is eventually convicted.