What happened in The Hague on Tuesday is truly striking. At the pre-trial hearing of the ICC against Rodrigo Duterte, lawyers outlined how the war on drugs in the Philippines was not really a fair fight. The victims mostly came from impoverished neighborhoods, places where people already had almost nothing. And when authorities killed them claiming they “nanlaban” (had resisted), it was in their own homes, in front of their families.

What struck me was the context highlighted by the lawyers. Paolina Massidda and Gilbert Andres described densely populated communities where a house was barely the size of two tables. People used methamphetamine not out of vice, but as a coping mechanism in the face of impossible living conditions. And it was precisely these vulnerable populations that were targeted.

Andres spoke in Filipino about what the indirect victims felt: “Inalisan kami ng dangal” – we were stripped of our dignity. It’s not just physical death. It’s the trauma that persists in close-knit communities, the stigma that clings to the Filipino family names of the survivors, the inability to legally defend themselves in a system that had already abandoned them.

Kristina Conti, a human rights lawyer, summarized the essence: these people could not afford to file complaints. They were defenseless, precisely because they came from marginalized backgrounds. It wasn’t a real war – it was a systematic operation against those who couldn’t fight back.

Two victims present at the hearing, Llore Pasco and Sheerah Escudero, clearly broke down while listening to the testimonies. Escudero’s brother was killed in 2017 when he was a teenager. She said it was frustrating to see how difficult it is to put into words the pain we go through. They are seeking justice, but they are also vilified.

The Pre-Trial Chamber must confirm the three counts of widespread murders as crimes against humanity within 60 days. For the families who lost loved ones, this hearing marks the first step toward the truth.