Philippine Mothers Detail Killings, Bribes in Duterte Drug War Testimony

October 1, 2026 at 05:57 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Mothers in Manila's Batasan neighborhood say police killed their children in 2017 drug war operations. They also say local officials demanded bribes to remove names from watch lists and fees to release bodies. The testimonies have been submitted to the International Criminal Court, where Rodrigo Duterte is detained.

Key Facts

Cristeta Ramos was shot once in the back and three times in the head by four plainclothes police officers in February 2017.
Llore Pasco's sons Cristanto and Juan Carlos, aged 34 and 31, were killed by police in May 2017 while on their way to work.
At least five families paid 10,000 pesos (about $180) to local government to remove names from drug watch lists.
Authorities initially demanded 120,000 pesos, later reduced to 70,000 pesos (about $1,350), to release the bodies of the victims.
Testimonies have been submitted to the International Criminal Court, where Duterte has been held since his arrest in March 2025.

The Killings

Cristeta Ramos was shot once in the back and three times in the head by four plainclothes police officers on her doorstep in February 2017. Her mother, Salvacion Ramos, 68, said Cristeta died in her arms. Llore Pasco's sons Cristanto and Juan Carlos, 34 and 31, were killed during a police operation in May 2017 while on their way to work. Pasco said police claimed they chased the men because they thought they were thieves, but the bullet wounds were on the front of their bodies.

Watch Lists and Bribes

Barangays across the Philippines compiled watch lists of current and former drug users. Salvacion Ramos said at least five families she knows paid 10,000 pesos (about $180) to local government to get names removed from the list. Authorities initially demanded 120,000 pesos, later reduced to 70,000 pesos (about $1,350), to release the bodies of the victims. The reduction came after intervention by the NGO Rise Up for Life and For Rights.

ICC Case

Rise Up for Life and For Rights has submitted the mothers' testimonies to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Duterte has been held at the ICC since his arrest in March 2025. The case accuses Duterte of crimes against humanity committed between 2011 and 2019, during his time as mayor of Davao City and later as president.