By Mark Vincent A. Durano

Families of extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims and human rights advocates remain determined to pursue justice for their slain loved ones by filing a disbarment complaint against former President Rodrigo Duterte for his misconduct as a lawyer and his bloody war on drugs, with the Supreme Court (SC) today, January 17.

Led by Atty. VJ Topacio, 17 complainants signed the 24-page document for the Disbarment Violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability.

The filing also coincides with his inclusion in the legal counsels of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, for her pending impeachment cases.

In his media briefing, Topacio highlighted Duterte’s misconduct, not only during his administration but also in the recent House Quad-committee hearing on his anti-narcotics operations.

“Sa buong administrasyon ni Duterte ay nakita natin ‘yung pambabastos sa mga kababaihan, mga late night na pagmumura, pambu-bully, at ‘yung pagpapakita na siya ay isang strongman sa ating bansa at ito ay walang lugar sa ating batas (Throughout Duterte’s administration, we have seen his insolence on women, late night swearing, bullying, and showing that he is a strongman in our country and it has no place in our law),” he said.

Topacio is the son of National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultants Agaton Topacio and Eugenia Magpantay, who were slain at their residence in Rizal on November 27, 2020.

The group also cited Duterte’s statement on being responsible for ordering policemen to provoke drug victims to “fight back.” 

Moreover, this narrative has been used against victims that have permitted the lack of due process for Duterte’s victims.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Topacio emphasized their filing went through the right procedure, contrary to his anti-narcotic operations which lacked fair trial.

“At least nag-file tayo [ng complaint], sumunod tayo sa proseso. ‘Yon ang gusto naming ipakita rito, na sumusunod kami sa proseso, hindi niya katulad (At least we filed a complaint, we followed the process. That is what we want to show that unlike him, we follow the process),” he said.

Topacio stressed that a lawyer should possess merit and fitness, which, he claimed, is lacking in someone who admits to killing people and condoning murder, just like the former president.

In a separate interview, petitioner and filmmaker ‘Alipato at Muog’ Director JL Burgos highlighted Duterte’s law violations, which disables him to still hold cases.

“Siya ay lumalabag mismo sa batas at hindi sumusunod sa batas at tingin namin ay hindi siya nararapat na humawak [ng] katungkulan bilang abogado (He violates the law himself and does not obey it and we think he does not deserve to abide the duties of a lawyer),” he shared.

Meanwhile, Llore Pasco, mother of Crisanto and Juan Carlos, who were killed in separate anti-drug operations in Quezon City last 2017, remained firm on seeking justice for all EJK victims under the Duterte regime.

“Hindi po kami magsasawa kahit po matagal, mahirap, masalimuot, ngunit nakahanda po kaming maghintay sa tamang panahon (We will not be worn out even if it is long, hard, complicate, but we are ready to wait for the right time),” she said.

At least 30,000 people were killed during the drug war as estimated by human rights groups.

The complainants said they cannot disclose other details of the complainant in respect of the SC’s sub-judice rule.

(Photo by Thea Danielle Morin/FEU Advocate)