The International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings involving former president Rodrigo Duterte and their potential impact on Filipino voters in the 2028 elections took center stage at the 10th Annual James J. O’Brien, SJ Memorial Lecture at Ateneo de Naga University on October 16, 2026.

Held under the theme “Conscience, Justice, and the Ballot: How Will the ICC Trial of Duterte Shape a Faith-Driven Electorate in 2028?,” the event brought together University officials, faculty members, students, alumni and guests for a discussion on the relationship between justice, moral responsibility, and political choice.

Former ICC Judge Raul C. Pangalangan delivered the lecture. Reactors Rev. Fr. Francis A. Tordilla and Atty. Angel R. Ojastro III offered theological, ethical and legal perspectives, followed by an audience question-and-answer session.

The program also marked the formal turnover to the University of the O’Bikoliana, a Golden Jubilee legacy project of the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1966.

Pangalangan: The trial is also a test of political culture

Pangalangan framed the Duterte case as more than a legal proceeding against a former president. He argued that the 2028 elections would also test how Filipinos judge the political style and values associated with Duterte, a phenomenon he broadly described as “Dutertismo.”

The former ICC judge contrasted the ideals embodied in the Philippine Constitution with what he described as the darker aspects of the country’s political experience during the Duterte administration. He discussed the killings associated with the war on drugs, the public circulation of graphic images, and Duterte’s controversial statements about human rights, religious figures and other leaders.

Pangalangan recalled his experience as a journalist and former publisher of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, including his discussion of a widely circulated photograph from the drug-war years. He said the images and statements that became part of public life reflected a period in which violence and inflammatory rhetoric were repeatedly visible.

His argument centered on the responsibility of political leadership to bring out the better qualities of citizens rather than encourage cruelty or disregard for human dignity.

Drawing on his experience at the ICC in The Hague, Pangalangan also discussed the importance of protecting the rights of the accused, ensuring that witnesses can testify in their own languages and requiring the prosecution to disclose evidence favorable to the defense. These safeguards, he explained, are essential elements of criminal justice.

The discussion also touched on the ICC’s jurisdiction, the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute and the principle of complementarity, under which the international court’s role is assessed in relation to genuine national proceedings. Pangalangan addressed questions about the court’s future and efforts to preserve the record of the drug war.

He stressed the importance of documenting events and making reliable information accessible, particularly to younger Filipinos who may encounter conflicting narratives about the period.

Church, conscience and the limits of a court verdict

In his reaction, Fr. Tordilla emphasized that a legal judgment, however consequential, cannot by itself transform a nation’s moral outlook.

He argued that the Church, families, schools, and other institutions have a continuing responsibility to form consciences and encourage citizens to evaluate political leaders according to principles of truth, justice, and human dignity.

Fr. Tordilla also cautioned against allowing political opposition to become an excuse for abandoning the very standards one expects others to observe. Due process, he stressed, should not depend on a person’s political identity.

The discussion therefore raised a broader question: even if a court determines an individual’s criminal responsibility, what will persuade citizens to reject political practices that tolerate violence or excuse abuses of power?

For Fr. Tordilla, the answer requires more than a verdict. It calls for sustained moral formation and a willingness to confront the suffering of victims without surrendering to hatred.

He also highlighted the need to remember victims and their families, including widows and orphans affected by the drug war. Forgiveness, in this context, should not mean forgetting what happened or abandoning the pursuit of truth.

Ojastro III distinguishes criminal liability from political accountability

Atty. Ojastro III approached the issue from a legal and civic perspective, reflecting on the difference between criminal responsibility before a court and political accountability in a democracy.

The two are related, he observed, but they are not identical. A court determines legal responsibility under applicable standards of proof and procedure. Citizens, meanwhile, must assess political leadership, public conduct, and the values reflected in their electoral choices.

Atty. Ojastro returned to Pangalangan’s question about what Duterte represents and what Filipinos might affirm when they vote in 2028. The challenge, he suggested, is not simply whether a particular legal case succeeds, but whether the public examines the standards it expects from those who govern.

Together, the two reactors reinforced the lecture’s central concern: justice must be pursued through fair procedures, while democratic accountability depends on citizens who are willing to reflect critically on political power.

Audience raises questions about the ICC and the drug-war record

The question-and-answer session broadened the discussion to include the future of the ICC, the international political pressures facing the court and the challenge of ensuring that the experiences of drug-war victims remain part of the public record.

Asked whether efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump could undermine the ICC, Pangalangan referred to sanctions imposed on the court during Trump’s first term and described difficulties that ICC personnel could face under renewed pressure.

He expressed the view that continued support from other member states, particularly in Europe and countries such as Japan and South Korea, would remain important to the court’s survival. He also explained that the closure of an international tribunal would not necessarily mean the automatic termination of pending cases, citing the experience of earlier international criminal tribunals.

Another question focused on how a population that has endured prolonged insecurity might move beyond the appeal of strongman rule and learn from the drug war.

Pangalangan said documenting the truth and sharing it widely were essential. He referred to records already collected by nongovernmental organizations, including church-based groups, as well as material gathered by journalists and photojournalists who documented the killings.

He said efforts were being made to bring these records together and make them accessible to the public, including young people. He also discussed the potential value of campus outreach, online resources, podcasts and first-hand accounts from victims’ families.

The challenge, he suggested, is not merely to preserve evidence but to ensure that future generations encounter a fuller record of what happened, rather than relying solely on political claims or online commentary.

O’Bikoliana formally entrusted to Ateneo de Naga University

The lecture was followed by a ceremony celebrating the contribution of the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1966, which was marking 60 years since its graduation.

The class established O’Bikoliana in collaboration with the University to honor its former teacher, Jesuit priest and scholar Fr. James J. O’Brien, SJ, and to help preserve and promote Bicol’s history, culture, and language.

In his remarks on behalf of the class, Raul “Rolly” Borjal recalled how the project began around the class’s Golden Jubilee in 2016. The alumni wanted to create something lasting in gratitude for O’Brien’s mentorship and his encouragement of cultural pride and scholarship.

Borjal described O’Bikoliana as more than a collection of books, manuscripts, and artifacts. He portrayed it as a place where researchers, artists, and students can discover the region’s heritage and recover a deeper sense of identity.

He also recalled how Fr. O’Brien encouraged students to value their own language and culture at a time when the use of local languages on campus was discouraged by an English-only rule.

With humor and affection, Borjal acknowledged the emotional significance of transferring responsibility for the project after a decade of support. He urged younger Ateneans to care for the collection, enrich it, and learn the history and language it preserves.

Turnover of O’Bikoliana Fund and P1 million building fund

The Class of 1966 turned over a check for P382,999.27 as contribution to support the annual memorial lecture, which the University announced it would institutionalize as a continuing academic tradition. The series will provide a regular forum for reflection on issues affecting the nation and the Bicol region.

The ceremony also recognized a ₱1-million building fund donated by the following US-based members of the class: Tony Martires, Greg Castilla, Nicol Miraflores, Jun Pavia, and Joe Vallejo. The donation will support the construction of the University’s Alumni Relations and Development Office. Fr. Dy said the gift reflected the alumni’s commitment both to intellectual life and to the institution’s continuing development.

Class of 1966 presents plaque of appreciation

As part of the turnover ceremony, the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1966, represented by Raul “Rolly” Borjal, Domingo “Boy” Claro, Manuel “Wels” Badong, Jaime “Jim” Dumalasa, Victorino “Vic” Sumalabe, and Arsenio “Senyong” Barrosa, also presented Ateneo de Naga University with a plaque of appreciation recognizing the University’s decade-long partnership in preserving and promoting Bikolano heritage through O’Bikoliana.

The plaque, bearing the heading “With Gratitude and a Shared Purpose,” expressed the class’s appreciation for the University’s role in giving life to the lessons and values imparted by their former teacher and mentor, Fr. James J. O’Brien, SJ.

Its citation was read by Jim Dumalasa:

“WITH GRATITUDE AND A SHARED PURPOSE

“We express our profound appreciation to ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY for giving the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1966, through O’BIKOLIANA, the opportunity to bring to life the lessons and values FR. JAMES J. O’BRIEN, S.J. imparted to us, while celebrating the richness and beauty of Bikol cultural heritage.

“For ten years, from 2016 to 2026, through the Fr. James J. O’Brien, S.J. Library, Ateneo de Naga University has provided O’Bikoliana with a home and steadfastly supported its mission to preserve and promote the history, culture, and language of the Bikolano people.

“As we formally turn over O’Bikoliana to Ateneo de Naga University, we do so with confidence that the University will continue to nurture, preserve, and advance this legacy for generations to come.

“Given this 16th day of October 2026 at Naga City, Philippines

“ATENEO DE NAGA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1966”

The plaque underscored the significance of the turnover: while the Class of 1966 was formally entrusting O’Bikoliana to the University, it was also affirming a shared commitment to sustaining the collection and its mission for future generations.

Beginning in 2027, the University is to assume full responsibility for O’Bikoliana’s operation.

University President Fr. Aristotle C. Dy, SJ, thanked the Class of 1966 for its sustained support and pledged that the collection would continue to be used for research and cultural awareness rather than simply remain on library shelves.

A shared challenge beyond the lecture hall

The event concluded with a prayer delivered by Fr. Celerino Ignacio M. Reyes, SJ for wisdom and responsible political participation ahead of the 2028 elections. Participants were urged to reject dishonesty, division, and injustice and to keep the dignity of every person, especially the poor and vulnerable, at the center of public life.

The day’s proceedings thus brought together two forms of responsibility: the pursuit of justice and accountability in public affairs, and the preservation of cultural memory through education and scholarship.

Pangalangan’s lecture and the reactors’ responses left the audience with a question extending beyond the outcome of any court case: whether the lessons of the Duterte years will influence how Filipinos understand power, justice, and their own obligations as citizens.

For the University and the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1966, the turnover of O’Bikoliana offered a parallel message. Institutions can preserve evidence, knowledge, and cultural memory, but their legacy depends on whether future generations choose to learn from them and carry their work forward.

The challenge ahead, as the country approaches another national election, is not only to judge political leaders but also to reflect on the values that citizens themselves are prepared to uphold.

The featured header photo was from Kurit Bulawan, the student publication of the Ateneo de Naga University Senior High School. All other photos were provided by the James J. O’Brien, SJ Library, headed by Dr. Alma Kay Reyes-Abarientos.

About the author

RAUL F. BORJAL, known as “Rolly” to his family and friends, was born in Naga City, Camarines Sur, and now resides in Parañaque City, Metro Manila. An alumnus of both Ateneo de Naga University and Ateneo de Manila University, he held senior executive roles in several domestic and multinational corporations, culminating in his retirement as Vice President and Corporate Secretary of a Filipino-owned group of companies.

He is married to the former Wenifreda D. Parma, a cum laude graduate of Ateneo de Naga University, and together they have four children. Rolly is also a co-founder and a member of the editorial board of Dateline Ibalon.