Marcoleta, Honasan on Duterte drug war: ‘There are no perfect systems’

Orphaned families and supporters of victims of alleged extrajudicial killings of the previous administration’s war on drugs gather along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. —Photo by Joan Bondoc | Philippine News Agency

MANILA, Philippines — “There are no perfect systems,” SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta said on Wednesday about the deaths during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.

“There’s collateral damage. That’s how it is. These people will fight. They’re criminals. Will we allow that? Our laws may have imperfections, but there are no perfect systems in this world,” Marcoleta said in Filipino during a press conference on Wednesday at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

Marcoleta held the press conference with former Sen. Gringo Honasan, a fellow senatorial candidate, to announce a petition to be submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding Duterte.

For his part, Honasan said in a mix of English and Filipino: “Let’s play fair. We counted the victims of tokhang, right? But did we count the victims of drug pushers?”

“We will make mistakes [on] both sides. No administration has a perfect record. But, to elevate it to crimes against humanity?” he added.

“Tokhang” is a combination of two Cebuano words — “toktok” or “to knock” and “hangyo” to “to plead with.” That was supposed to the tactic of law enforcers during the drug war — knock on doors of suspected drug pushers and plead with them to stop their trade.

READ: Groups to make formal request to ICC for Duterte repatriation

According to government data, there were around 6,000 deaths due to Duterte’s drug war.

However, human rights watchdogs place the death toll between 12,000 and 30,000.

Citing deaths during the anti-drug campaign, the ICC prosecutor alleges that Duterte committed crimes against humanity.

The former president was arrested on March 11 and brought to The Hague, Netherlands, to face the international tribunal.

The petition announced by Honasan and Marcoleta seeks to request a leave for Duterte from the ICC to address the validity of his arrest and the “urgent need” to release and return him to the Philippines.

“Let us not allow a court whose policies we do not understand to be the first to make a judgment. We have our own prevailing laws. This is what we want to happen. That’s why we’re filing this petition,” Marcoleta said.

READ: Highlights: Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC pre-trial

Duterte made his first appearance before the international court on March 14.

His confirmation of charges hearing was set for September 23, 2025.