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Helen Flores - The Philippine Star
February 28, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Those who are accusing the Marcos government of drug-related killings should present solid evidence so authorities can investigate the allegations, a Palace official said yesterday, stressing that President Marcos would not tolerate those who abuse their power.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the remarks in response to claims of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team that drug-related killings increased during the first two years of Marcos, citing the so-called Dahas Project.
“Whoever is saying this, whoever is providing this kind of information, they should complete it, not just numbers, but where it happened, who was involved,” the Palace press officer said.
“The President would not want those who abuse their power to go unpunished,” she added.
The Dahas Project claimed there have been 1,183 drug-related killings during the Marcos administration as of Feb. 23.
“That’s why, what I have said, if there are pieces of evidence that can be submitted, then that’s the right time to investigate this matter,” Castro said.
“The President would not want this administration to be tainted by bloody extrajudicial killings because that is not his legacy,” she stressed.
Castro said it is the job of the Philippine National Police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the matter even without the President’s order.
‘Kwek-kwek’ treat for Kaufman
In case Duterte’s lawyer Nicholas Kaufman visits the Philippines, Castro said she is more than willing to treat him to street food like balut, kwek-kwek and adidas – but there will be no debate on the former president’s interim release because that was already struck down by the International Criminal Court.
“First of all, I am not inviting him. If ever, everybody is welcome to see the beauty of our country, all tourists are welcome – all tourists, including their families,” the Palace official said.
For Neri Colmenares, legal counsel for families of drug war victims, Duterte’s defense team has so far presented weak arguments – none of which will absolve the former president from the crimes against humanity he is being charged with.
“It’s good that they are somewhat using legal arguments and no longer political propaganda, but he (Kaufman) still mentioned weak points and evidence. As predicted, we said before, when there is a trial, they will have a really hard time because they have no evidence to prove that he (Duterte) has nothing to do with the drug war and we saw that earlier in the defense presentation,” Colmenares said in an interview in The Hague. — Bella Cariaso, Janvic Mateo
