ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines — The family of 19-year-old Anwar Sawadjaan, who was killed alongside friends Noel Rey Bacalso (22) and Angelo Hofer (20) in 2016, is among the drug war victims hoping for justice as the International Criminal Court (ICC) clears the way for the confirmation of charges hearing against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Anwar, Noel Rey, and Angelo were gunned down on July 29, 2016, along a highway in Overview village, Liloy town, near Zamboanga Sibugay. Police claimed it was a drug-related shootout and that the three resisted arrest at a checkpoint.
But the families’ lawyer disputes the account, citing eyewitnesses who said there was no checkpoint and that the three were shot while unarmed inside their pickup truck.
Their deaths, ICC noted, are part of the 52 “nanlaban” (resisting arrest) cases referred by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for case-building. Nineteen of these cases have already been resolved, while the Sawadjaan case remains pending before the DOJ on a petition for review.
READ: The Pre-Trial Chamber 1 Document, Pages 33-34
ICC confirms Duterte fit to stand trial
On February 13, the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC rejected Duterte’s defense bid to appeal a previous ruling that found him fit to participate in proceedings in the Netherlands. The Defense argued that the Court ignored clinical evidence from its own experts on Duterte’s alleged cognitive decline.
The judges dismissed the claim as a “misrepresentation,” noting that Defense reports were considered but weighed against independent, impartial expert reviews.
“The Chamber’s reason not to rely on the Defense’s medical reports was to ensure that only information emanating from impartial and neutral sources was taken into consideration in order to ultimately ensure the fairness of the proceedings,” the ruling said.
The ruling allows the confirmation of charges hearing to proceed as scheduled on February 23, 2026.
500 victims granted participation
In a related decision, the ICC authorized 500 individuals to participate as victims in the crimes against humanity case. The Pre-Trial Chamber endorsed the Victims Participation and Reparation Section’s (VPRS) assessment of 227 applications. It ensured that the admitted victims are represented by a Common Legal Representative throughout the proceedings.
ICC’s recent rulings signal a crucial step in international efforts to hold former Philippine officials accountable for alleged human rights violations under Duterte’s war on drugs. The campaign has left thousands dead and families like the Sawadjaans seeking long-awaited justice.
About The Author
