The arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his transfer to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity is a historic step towards justice and accountability. It is a testament to the courage and perseverance of the families of “drug war” victims who, with the support of human rights groups and lawyers, boldly filed the case in 2018 at the height of the killings and while Duterte was still in power.
Duterte’s arrest and detention show the importance of collective principled actions to uphold human rights and the rule of law, especially in the Philippines which has long struggled with impunity. The former president having to be prosecuted abroad only underscores the persistent weaknesses in domestic institutions which still remain under the sway of political and domestic elites.
As an institution dedicated to economic and social justice, IBON notes that the so-called drug war was not only a human rights catastrophe but also had severe economic and social consequences. Duterte used billions of pesos in public funds for his brutal killing operations while basic health, education, housing and social protection services are underfunded. He doubled the salaries of the police, while ignoring the clamor of public health workers and school teachers. Poor communities and families bore his brutal onslaught in unspeakable ways, suffering lost livelihoods and worsening economic insecurity. The climate of fear and violence, coupled with general political repression, restricted civic spaces and hampered economic development.
Duterte did not act in the best interests of the nation – he was a tyrannical demagogue reveling in his power. He is not a martyr – he is getting what is due him for his crimes against humanity. His arrest is not a mere battle between political factions – it is the result of the tireless efforts of the families of victims and the citizens to demand justice. It cannot be overlooked on the other hand that Marcos Jr opportunistically entered into an electoral alliance just to take power in 2022 even while fully aware of the brutality of the Dutertes. The administration also dragged its feet for years until their political rivalry heightened.
The demand for justice is for the tens of thousands of victims of the fake drug war and other extrajudicial killings, red-tagging, and state violence – issues that persist under the Marcos Jr administration. Systemic state violence remains an urgent problem especially with the continuation of oppressive policies like the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and of repressive machinery like the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Duterte’s arrest and detention is just the start. We urge the Marcos Jr government to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ensure that justice is served and to rejoin the ICC. Beyond Duterte, all those who implemented and benefited from policies leading to human rights violations must also be held accountable. We also challenge the government to stop attacks on activists and civil society, to uphold human rights, and to shift national priorities towards real development that upholds human dignity, social justice, and economic equity.
Justice and accountability are necessary foundations for equitable and sustainable growth. The trajectory of worsening impunity in the country will only worsen inequality, instability, and economic backwardness. The arrest, detention and conviction of Duterte can be a crucial step forward as a repudiation of state-sponsored violence and impunity.
We stand with the families of victims and human rights defenders in their demand for justice. Duterte must be held accountable, and the structures enabling state-sponsored violence must be dismantled. This is the start of building a society that truly serves the people.