Day of reckoning

For the first time in years, the days for remembering the dearly departed are being marked as relatives of the thousands who were killed in the brutal crackdown on illegal drugs feel they are a step closer to attaining justice.

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Last March, the unapologetic leader of that crackdown was flown to The Hague in the Netherlands, where he is likely to face trial before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity in connection with his bloody war on drugs.

The ICC recently dismissed a challenge to its jurisdiction over the case against former president Rodrigo Duterte. The dismissal is on appeal, but legal experts say the ICC is unlikely to reverse itself.

Lawyers knowledgeable about ICC procedures say at least two former Duterte officials directly involved in the war on drugs are expected to face arrest orders, to be coursed by the ICC through the International Criminal Police Organization.