The Akbayan party-List said former President Rodrigo Duterte must be held accountable for the crimes against humanity he was accused of committing during his presidency.
The group’s nominee, Rep. Percy Cendaña, made the statement following the arrest of the former president in light of the charges leveled against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“You asked for it, now here it is. Take full responsibility for the thousands of deaths caused by your bloody and morally bankrupt war on drugs,” he said.
“You can’t escape now. Cut off the drama. Time’s up! The day of reckoning has come, and there’s no escape from justice,” Cendaña added in a statement.
The party-list lawmaker said news of Duterte’s arrest gave them a sense of relief that the world is finally seeing his legacy of “grave human rights abuses, rampant corruption, and a thirst for power.”
“From Davao to Malacañang, you left your mark—not as a father to the nation, but as an executioner. The crimes you committed against humanity will always precede you,” Cendaña said, addressing Duterte.
“The blood of the murdered victims trail you wherever you go. No matter which prison you end up in, your conscience will haunt you forever,” the lawmaker added.
Duterte was arrested by authorities Tuesday morning after the Philippine government received an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), according to Malacañang.