Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Fredderick Vida reminded the public that the evidence gathered by the International Criminal Court (ICC) points to victims of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) reportedly committed under former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, when Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa served as the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

“Mga kababayan ko, naliligaw tayo ng landas sa pagtingin po natin sa proseso. Dito po sa DOJ, ang pilit po nating ipinupunto, tingnan po natin din ‘yung biktima. Tandaan natin, itong arrest warrant kay Senator Bato Dela Rosa, dahil may mga Pilipinong naghahanap ng katarungan,” Vida said during a press conference on Friday.

He reminded Filipinos that they should stand with the victims of EJKs, stressing that the case against Rodrigo Duterte and his accomplices is being prosecuted in the name of the People of the Philippines.

The Justice secretary emphasized that there were numerous victims, a number of them children and deprived of due process.

“Tandaan po natin. Sa mga nakalatag na ebidensya sa ICC, may mga biktima po na naghahanap ng katarungan… Huwag puro mawawala sa ating isipan na itong tinatawag na EJKs may mga biktima po. At hindi lang po iilan. May mga bata po. May mga bata po na hindi na po makakapag-file ng writ of habeas corpus, may mga bata po na hindi na po makakatakbo, na hindi na po makakapangatwiran,” he stressed.

Vida said that in the end, the truth will come out.

“Nakakalungkot po ‘yung mga naging insidente. Pero sa dulo po nito, ang katotohanan lamang naman po ang mamamayani,” he said.

The DOJ confirmed that the ICC arrest warrant against Dela Rosa was a valid one, albeit they are awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision as to whether the foreign warrant should be passed through local courts.