Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla reaffirmed that the government remains steadfast in its investigation of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to the previous administration’s drug war, even as former president Rodrigo Duterte faces trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Remulla emphasized that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is “unrelenting” in holding those responsible accountable, regardless of Duterte’s ongoing case at The Hague.

“That is continuous. We’ve been doing our work on the EJKs. It’s slow-grinding police work, law enforcement work that we have to pick up because the reports are not complete. We just have to recreate many of the records and many of the things that happened,” he said.

The justice chief’s remarks come as international attention on the Philippines intensifies following Duterte’s arrest and detention at Scheveningen Prison in The Hague. The former president is facing charges of crimes against humanity over his controversial anti-drug campaign.

Despite the ICC proceedings, Remulla insisted that the government’s own investigations will continue independently.

“A person cannot be tried twice for the same act. The ICC case is different from the cases here. We want to avoid overlapping proceedings. If a case is already being heard in one jurisdiction, it should not be repeated,” he explained.

However, he reiterated that ensuring justice for the victims remains the government’s priority. “We just want justice,” he said.

Earlier, Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano revealed that the DOJ’s investigation remains active and is even gaining momentum.

“The arrest and transfer of Duterte to The Hague does not mean the government will stop its investigations at the local level,” Clavano said, adding that the DOJ continues to receive complaints and evidence from victims’ families.

Currently, the DOJ is gathering affidavits, complaints, and other evidence to determine whether Duterte’s war on drugs constituted a systematic attack on civilians — an inquiry that could lead to further legal action.