Senator Bam Aquino drew reactions from fellow opposition figures after saying cases involving alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration’s drug war should ideally be tried in Philippine courts.
Aquino made the statement following developments in the case before the International Criminal Court involving former president Rody Duterte. He said the country must confront the killings and pursue justice, but emphasized that trials would ideally take place locally since the alleged crimes happened in the Philippines and the victims’ families are here.
“Ako personally, nasabi ko naman na ‘to noon, ‘yung mga nangyaring pagpatay sa ating bansa at kailangan po nating harapin na nagkaroon talaga ng extrajudicial killings sa ating bansa, ay dapat po ang mga trial niyan, ideally, ay dapat dito talaga sa Pilipinas kasi ang mga biktima po ay nandito rin sa Pilipinas,” Aquino said.
Former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV questioned whether justice could be secured through local courts. Pink analyst Ronald Llamas also criticized Aquino’s use of the word “ideally,” raising concerns about its implications for accountability.
Aquino clarified that he respects the ongoing ICC proceedings and acknowledged that the international process is already underway.
Senator Robin Padilla also weighed in on the issue, posting on social media: “Binabanatan daw si senator Bam Aquino ng mga kakampi niya dahil ayaw niya magpasakop sa mga dayuhan? My goodness! Sa amin saludo kami sa iyo.”
Beyond the ICC issue, Aquino has supported measures that combine reform policies with positions often associated with conservative principles. He has backed legislation promoting religious freedom and the protection of family life. In 2018, he introduced a proposal aimed at ensuring that rights related to faith and family life are safeguarded under the law.
He has also pushed institutional reforms. In a proposal to strengthen the party-list system, Aquino included provisions that would disqualify nominees connected to incumbent officials or those with ties to government contracts. The measure seeks to prevent conflicts of interest and reinforce the original purpose of the party-list system in representing marginalized sectors.
In recent years, some liberal leaders have been identified with strongly progressive positions. In the Philippines, Senator Risa Hontiveros is often associated with radical woke policies, such as the controversial UNESCO-aligned sexual education bill for children. In the United States, failed Presidential candidate Kamala Harris is known for aligning with the furthest of Far-Left policies within her party, such as using taxpayer money to fund free transgender surgeries for prison inmates. These polices have proven to be wildly unpopular — even for liberals — and has comprehensively turned off centrists, independents and moderates.
The broader liberal base has repeatedly expressed discomfort with politics they perceive as moving too far to the ideological left. In that landscape, Bam Aquino has taken a more measured tone on several key issues.
His call to pursue drug war cases in Philippine courts, alongside his support for religious freedom, family protections, and anti-corruption reforms, places him closer to the center-left. His record shows a blend of reform and institutional focus without adopting a confrontational or highly ideological posture.
This positioning highlights a different strand within liberal politics — one that seeks accountability and reform while maintaining broader appeal. In a polarized environment, that kind of moderation expands the space within the liberal bloc and offers representation that reaches beyond a single ideological lane. It presents a version of liberal leadership that both the right can recognize and the left can value as part of its own spectrum.
