ML party-list: Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 arrest not retribution, but justice
THERE GOES DECORUM The nation had a fresh dose of the expletive-laden rants of Rodrigo Duterte in October 2024, as the former President appeared at the Senate and faced, for the first time since the end of his term, an official body revisiting his bloody war on drugs. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Instead of being about retribution, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest is the serving of justice and the pursuit of accountability for all the extrajudicial killing (EJKs) victims of the past administration’s drug war, Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list group said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the ML party-list said that Rodrigo’s arrest is a reminder that while justice may take time, it will always find its way.
Duterte was detained earlier by the Philippine National Police (PNP), to implement the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice for the arrest order issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
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“This moment is not about retribution—it is about justice. The fight does not end here. Those who enabled and profited from this bloody campaign must also be held accountable,” ML party-list said.
“To the victims and their families, we see you, we stand with you, and we will continue to fight alongside you. Justice may take time, but it always finds its way,” it added.
According to ML party-list, their first nominee, former senator Leila de Lima was actually one of the first personalities to raise concerns about the EJKs in Duterte’s drug war — which they believe resulted in the trumped-up cases against her.
“The arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a long-overdue step toward justice. For years, victims and their families have waited for accountability, and today, the world has affirmed that no one is above the law,” ML party-list said.
“Our first nominee, Leila de Lima, was among the first to challenge Duterte’s drug war—when few dared to do so. She stood up against the killings, exposed the truth, and paid the price with almost seven years of unjust imprisonment. While she faced her case with dignity and courage, Duterte must now answer for the crimes committed under his watch,” it added.
De Lima was one of Duterte’s fiercest critics, probing the former president’s anti-drug campaign even when she was still the former Commission on Human Rights chairperson, and he was Davao City’s mayor.
The former senator was detained for almost seven years due to different drug-related charges filed when Duterte was still in office. De Lima has been acquitted for all of the cases.
READ: De Lima acquitted in last drug case
Aside from the ML party-list, Akbayan party-list first nominee and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno also lauded Duterte’s arrest, saying that the former president must be placed under the ICC jurisdiction immediately.
“I stand with the families and victims of extrajudicial killings in welcoming the ICC’s arrest of former Pres. Duterte. Justice demands that this warrant be enforced without delay. Duterte must be placed under the ICC’s jurisdiction immediately,” Diokno said.
“The Philippine government must fully cooperate with the Interpol and the ICC, mobilizing all law enforcement agencies to bring him in. The government must act decisively and ensure that he has nowhere to hide. No more safe spaces for tyrants,” he added.
Diokno said this is the law catching up on Duterte, who has been accused of allowing EJKs in the drug war.
“For decades, Duterte thought himself untouchable—above the law, beyond accountability. But history catches up with even the most ruthless despots. His reign of terror must meet its inevitable end: his conviction,” he said.
“This is a critical step towards justice, but the fight is far from over. His allies will attempt to shield him, manipulate the system, and derail the process. The government must guarantee full protection for the witnesses and victims’ families, who are now at risk of retaliation,” he added.
Over the weekend, there were rumors that the ICC will soon issue an arrest order for Duterte, due to the crimes against humanity of mass murder cases against him. During this time, the former president, his relatives and key allies, flew to Hong Kong to meet overseas Filipino workers.
Duterte faced the crimes against humanity raps due to his role in his administration’s war on drugs, where thousands of individuals were killed. While many lauded Duterte’s campaign, it was also flagged by human rights defenders for being violent and bloody.
In Hong Kong, the older Duterte addressed talks on the arrest order, saying that his actions during the war on illegal drugs were for the Philippines’ benefit.
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Several official and independent investigations of the drug war have shown that there were several instances where innocent individuals were dragged into the anti-drug operations, like in the case of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos who was summarily executed even if he was not the original target of the operation in Caloocan City. last August 2017.
The three police officers involved in the killing of delos Santos were convicted of murder.
Last August 2024, the House of Representatives’ quad committee started an extensive probe on the past administration’s drug war and other issues. The four panels eventually recommended the filing of crimes against humanity complaints against Duterte and his key allies for allegedly committing extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the anti-drug campaign.
During the course of the quad committee probe, it was revealed by former police colonel Royina Garma that Duterte called him in May 2016 about setting up a rewards system for police officers who would kill drug suspects.
