The Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated an extensive investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s potential involvement in crimes against humanity related to his controversial war on drugs. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Monday, November 18, that the probe, conducted by a newly formed DOJ task force, will operate under Republic Act No. 9851, which defines and penalizes such crimes, ensuring compliance with national laws.
“Our task force is doing that now,” Remulla confirmed in a One News report when asked about investigating Duterte. He noted that the scope of the investigation will be comprehensive, despite potential overlap with the ongoing International Criminal Court (ICC) inquiry. “We are talking about several laws that will come into play. They will overlap. Then we will choose our strategy later,” Remulla stated, emphasizing the intent to differentiate charges filed locally from those potentially pursued by the ICC.
The task force, established by Department Order 778 on November 4, will scrutinize extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to Duterte’s drug war. The panel, chaired by a senior assistant state prosecutor and supported by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), aims to investigate, develop cases, and charge those responsible for summary executions.
The initiative follows Duterte’s admissions during legislative hearings that he had organized a “death squad” in Davao City and directed law enforcement to ensure lethal force against suspects who resisted arrest. According to DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, the task force’s work will not be confined to Duterte’s presidency but will include a wide range of EJK cases classified as murder or homicide, even revisiting cold cases due to the 20-year prescriptive period.
The government reports indicate over 7,000 casualties during Duterte’s drug war, while human rights groups claim the true number may exceed 30,000, involving predominantly poor suspects targeted by police and vigilantes.
As the DOJ forges ahead, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV has reiterated accusations against Duterte, alleging the drug war masked the ex-president’s own protection of a drug syndicate. Trillanes also challenged Duterte to open his bank accounts for scrutiny, an offer Duterte previously accepted but later declined.
Malacañang, however, dismissed Duterte’s claims of political sabotage involving President Marcos as baseless. “That’s a hallucination,” said Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. Meanwhile, Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s former legal adviser, indicated that the former president is contemplating legal action against Trillanes for these renewed allegations.
