On the second day of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) confirmation of charges hearing on former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Atty. Gilbert Andres emphasized the devastating consequences of the anti-drug campaign on the poor, their families, and children.

Speaking before the international court, Andres said Duterte’s campaign “was not really a war on drugs, it was a war against the poor. The continued stigmatization of the indirect victims… and the surviving family members still persist until now. The children of the murdered victims are still suffering psychologically, mentally, and socio-economically.”

He explained that many victims were from low-income communities, where families had little capacity to protect themselves or seek justice. The deaths of breadwinners left households struggling financially, while children were left orphaned or traumatized by witnessing killings in their neighborhoods.

Andres highlighted that the harm extended beyond immediate deaths. Families endured long-term emotional trauma, social stigma, and economic hardships, and children continue to bear the psychological scars of the violence. He argued that the campaign was a systematic attack on impoverished communities, not simply a law enforcement effort.

Trial Lawyer Edward Jeremy also highlighted that children were among the victims of the drug war during his presentation, naming the death of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos in 2017.

The ICC is now reviewing evidence on how Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs” disproportionately affected the poor, with lawyers like Andres emphasizing the enduring human cost on families and children. Judges will decide whether there is sufficient basis to advance to a full trial for crimes against humanity.