De Lima ready to assist ICC trial on Duterte drug war

WILLING WITNESS. Former senator Leila De Lima testifies before the House of Representatives quad committee hearing on Oct. 22, 2024. She is prepared to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, her legal counsel Dino de Leon said on Tuesday (March 18, 2025). (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

By Filane Mikee Cervantes, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Former senator and known Rodrigo Duterte nemesis Leila de Lima is willing to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed during the administration of the former president, her legal counsel said on Tuesday.

In an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, lawyer Dino de Leon said De Lima has already submitted evidence to the ICC and is prepared to testify if summoned.

“Si Senator Leila de Lima ay willing mag-cooperate sa ICC (Senator Leila de Lima is willing to cooperate with the ICC),” De Leon said.

De Lima was jailed from February 2017 to November 2023 in Camp Crame, Quezon City for alleged drug-related charges. She was fully acquitted of all charges in June 2024.

De Lima, as chair of the Commission on Human Rights, led the first investigation into the Davao Death Squad when Duterte was mayor of Davao City.

She later probed Duterte’s drug war as a senator before being arrested in 2017.

“Matatandaan natin si Senator Leila de Lima ang unang-unang nagpa-imbestiga sa Davao Death Squad (We remember that Senator Leila de Lima was the first to investigate the Davao Death Squad),” De Leon said.

“Ang kanyang sinabi ay kailangan sugpuin ang droga pero hindi sagot ang malawakang patayan (She said that illegal drugs must be eradicated, but mass killings are not the solution),” he added.

Despite her detention, De Lima sent an official communication to the ICC as part of the complaint against Duterte, who will turn 80 on March 28.

“Isinubmit na niya doon ang mga ebidensyang nakalap niya bilang (She has already submitted the evidence she gathered as) Commission on Human Rights chairperson,” he said.

De Leon said De Lima will travel to The Hague, Netherlands and if required, is willing to be a witness in the case.

De Leon further said that De Lima remains steadfast in her stance against Duterte’s policies.

“Sinabi rin naman ni Senator Leila de Lima [na] (Senator Leila de Lima also said) there will be a day of reckoning,” he said.

Duterte was the subject of an arrest warrant by the ICC over the alleged crimes against humanity committed due to his drug war carried out between Nov. 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019 during his time as Davao City mayor and then Philippine president.

He arrived in The Hague on March 12 and was turned over to the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen.

The ICC scheduled the next hearing on Sept. 23to confirm the charges against Duterte.