Legislators, human rights advocates and the Catholic hierarchy were united in celebrating yesterday former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest by virtue of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant .
The most prominent of them all was former justice secretary and human rights lawyer Leila De Lima, who suffered years-long detention on drug charges filed by the Duterte administration.
“Today, Duterte is being made to answer—not to me, but to the victims, to their families, to a world that refuses to forget. This is not about vengeance. This is about justice finally taking its course,” De Lima said.
“For almost seven years, I was imprisoned on fabricated charges, accused of crimes I did not commit—all because I dared to speak out against Duterte’s drug war. While I was behind bars, thousands of Filipinos were killed without justice, their families left to grieve with no answers, no accountability,” she added.
De Lima was acquitted in 2024, with all charges against her dismissed.
Similarly, Llore Pasco, the mother of two extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims who testified against Duterte expressed relief and hope for justice.
“We have long been waiting for this and we are filled with hope today. I hope the reports we are reading from the news are true,” she said in Filipino.
Her two sons were killed in Duterte administration’s2 “war on drugs.”
Meanwhile, administration legislators said the arrest proves the Philippines upholds the rule of law and respects international legal commitments as opposition said such was a “long overdue”
Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, chairperson of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, underscored the significance of this development, stating that it is proof of the country’s adherence to a rules-based order.
“This is proof that the Philippines is a country that respects the rules-based order in the world and that we uphold the rule of law. Nobody is above the law,” Roman said in a press conference.
Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair of the House committee on dangerous drugs, said Duterte’s arrest marks a pivotal moment in the Philippine’s pursuit of justice, particularly to the families of the more than 30,000 extra-judicial killings (EJKs) during his administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Barbers, lead chair of the Lower House’s Quad Committee, said the former president’s arrest would restore public’s trust in the justice system, and those who violated laws will be held accountable and tried in court.
“The previous administration’s bloody war on drugs, the mandated coming up of high stats for anti-drug ops and kills, has emboldened the country’s law enforcers to abandon their motto of ‘serve and protect’ and adopted a new culture of impunity, blind eye to justice and disrespect to people’s rights,” said Barbers.
Even militant lawmakers Reps. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela and France Castro of ACT Teachers said the arrest was long overdue.
“This arrest is the product of years of relentless calls for accountability from families of victims, human rights defenders, and the international community. It validates what we have been saying all along – that Duterte’s so-called ‘war on drugs’ was nothing but state-sanctioned violence that targeted the poor and marginalized,” said Brosas.
“The arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte marks a concrete step towards accountability and justice for the countless victims of his bloody regime. This should serve as a reminder that those responsible for human rights abuses must face the consequences of their actions,” Castro said.
At the upper chamber, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the pursuit of justice for the thousands killed in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs should not stop with him, urging authorities to go after all government officials and personnel responsible.
“I hope this is just the beginning of holding all government officials and personnel accountable for the killing of innocent or defenseless people,” she said.
“The thousands of Filipinos killed during tokhang were not murdered by one man alone,” the senator continued.
For his part, Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan said that Duterte’s arrest represents an essential step toward achieving justice for the many lives lost during his controversial drug campaign.
“True justice… is about accountability, transparency, and the protection of human dignity,” said Bagaforo, who is also president of Caritas Philippines.
“For years, former president Duterte has claimed that he is ready to face the consequences of his actions. Now is the time for him to prove it,” he said.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos emphasized the need for justice, stating that the victims and their families deserve truth and reparations.
“These killings were not random; they were part of a policy that violated the fundamental right to life,” said Alminaza, who is also vice president of the national Caritas.
“The families of the victims deserve truth, reparations, and justice. As a nation, we must ensure that such crimes never happen again,” he said.
BAYAN President Renato Reyes echoed similar sentiments, urging the Marcos administration to ensure justice is served “without fear or favor.”
“Impunity cannot last forever. Let us use this moment to call attention to the human rights crisis in the Philippines and the need to end extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations. Let this event serve as a warning to those who think abuse of power will go unpunished,” Reyes said.
Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno urged the Philippine government to cooperate with Interpol and the ICC, calling for decisive action.
“Duterte must be placed under the ICC’s jurisdiction immediately… The government must act decisively and ensure that he has nowhere to hide. No more safe spaces for tyrants,” Diokno said.