The Core of Investigative Journalism: Learning from the ICC Verdict to Craft Human-Centered Stories

Last month, major media outlets in the Philippines were closely watching a significant ruling by the International Criminal Court (ICC). It was the decision of the appellate chamber to reject the appeal against the provisional release request of former President Rodrigo Duterte. This ruling was not just a legal event but became a symbolic example of how investigative journalism should tell complex stories through human narratives.

Background of the Ruling and the Value of Reporting

By December 5, a panel of experts was scheduled to determine Duterte’s fitness for trial, but on Friday, November 28, the ICC appellate chamber confirmed the September decision of the pre-trial chamber and rejected his request for provisional release. For the families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJK), this ruling marks a long-awaited milestone.

The fact that the former president will spend Christmas at the Scheveningen prison in The Hague is rooted in his orders for thousands of murders during his drug war. However, laws alone cannot convey what the victims’ families want to truly know or the voices they wish to hear.

The Essence of Investigative Journalism: Voices Beyond Statistics

As demonstrated by the article written by reporter Lian Buan, the true power of investigative journalism lies in giving a face to complex legal issues. The common question among victims’ families is simple—“When will Duterte’s trial actually start?” Only through answering this question can the meaning of ICC procedures be understood by readers.

While Duterte himself has been detained for over nine months on charges of crimes against humanity, the irony that he is receiving due process protections not afforded to EJK victims must also be conveyed as part of the story, or it risks being overlooked.

Classroom Practice: Lessons from a Student Investigative Journalism Project

Outside the newsroom, students in an investigative journalism class were working on their final project about the San Mateo sanitary landfill. Initially, their investigation covered various angles such as corruption allegations, environmental safety issues, and legal violations. However, their final draft was cold, merely a list of quotes, statistics, and legal knowledge.

What the students needed was not just fact-gathering but deeper engagement, curiosity, precise questions, and imagination about how the story might unfold. In the revision, they faced this challenge head-on and were able to grow into much better reporters than before.

Omar Duterte’s “Inhumane” Protest: Irony and Contradiction

Omar Duterte (31), grandson and current representative of Davao City’s Second District, who claims that his 80-year-old grandfather’s detention is “barely inhumane,” symbolizes the complexity of the story. Here, questions about the due process and detention conditions that thousands of murder victims under Duterte’s drug war were denied are brought into focus.

The Next Investigative Step: Deep Dive with Pia Ranada

On Wednesday, December 10, four brave reporters—Lian Buan, Dwight De Leon, Jairo Bared, and Patrick Cruz—who continue relentless reporting on corruption undermining the nation’s foundations, will be featured. They are known for numerous articles on extraordinary flood control projects.

In an exclusive briefing hosted by community leader Pia Ranada for Rappler+ members at the newsroom, these reporters will discuss how they build investigative stories, why they continue their investigations, and what drives them forward despite facing challenges.

Participants will also have the opportunity to ask about Lian’s latest investigation, which involves a senior official close to the president and a construction company linked to a multi-million peso project in Ilocos Norte.

No Breaks in Investigative Journalism

December is usually a time for reflection on the year, but journalists are destined to keep moving forever. Pursuing stories that impact people’s lives is not just a profession but a mission. Rappler continues this work because it believes you have the right to know.

Stay tuned for the next issue.