Philippine drug war victims

Former president Rodrigo Duterte left behind a bloody trail as he waged a violent anti-illegal drug campaign that led to thousands of Filipinos killed in the poorest communities. Government data shows that at least 6,252 people were killed in police operations between July 1, 2016, and May 31, 2022. This excludes victims of vigilante-style killings, which human rights groups estimate to be between 27,000 to 30,000.

Duterte’s war on drugs is being investigated by the International Criminal Court for possible crimes against humanity. Many of those left behind, including widows and orphaned children, pin their hopes on the ICC for possible justice. Rappler revisits families of drug war victims to listen and retell their stories as they seek justice in the face of continuing fear and challenges post-Duterte.