Duterte arrest shows int鈥檒 community won鈥檛 tolerate abuses 鈥� solons
Former president Rodrigo Duterte addresses a proclamation rally for his senatorial candidates of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino party ahead of the midterm elections, at a social club in Manila on February 13, 2025. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest based on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) order is proof that the international community does not tolerate abuses, ranking House lawmakers said on Tuesday.
In a statement, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V echoed the sentiments of their colleagues that the ICC arrest order shows that no one is above the law.
“The arrest of former President Duterte is a decisive step toward justice,” Gonzales said. “This proves that the international community will not tolerate crimes against humanity, and those responsible for extrajudicial killings must answer for their actions.”
“Justice has no expiration date. The thousands of lives lost in the bloody war on drugs deserve to be remembered, and the arrest of the former President is a testament that impunity will never be permanent,” Ortega added.
Gonzales — Duterte’s former party-mate at the PDP-Laban — also disputed claims that the former president’s arrest is related to politics, noting that the ICC operates “based on evidence, not politics.”
“This is not about partisanship—this is about justice, accountability, and upholding human rights,” Gonzales said. “The Filipino people and the world demand answers, and Duterte must face the consequences of his actions.”
“This is a clear message that no leader can escape justice forever. The rule of law must prevail, and the Philippine government should respect international accountability mechanisms instead of protecting those accused of grave human rights violations,” he added.
Ortega also urged Duterte not to play the victim and just face the cases filed against him.
“Instead of playing the victim, former President Duterte should answer for his actions. The families of the victims deserve justice, and this is just the beginning,” he said.
Earlier, Duterte was not allowed to leave the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, as the Philippine National Police (PNP) assisted in implementing the International Criminal Police Organization’s (Interpol) red notice for the ICC arrest order.
The ICC order is connected to crimes against humanity of mass murder charges filed against Duterte due to his role in his administration’s drug war.
According to Duterte’s close ally, Senator Bong Go, the former president was then brought to the Villamor Air Base.
Just after 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, claimed that the ex-leader was being forcibly brought to a plane that would carry him to The Hague, Netherlands, where the ICC is based.
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Duterte’s son, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, meanwhile accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration of political maneuvering when it allowed the ICC to implement, through the Interpol, the arrest order.
“This is not the Philippine National Police serving a warrant since they cannot even justify their actions. This is a political maneuver of the Bongbong Marcos administration. Be prepared no matter what,” the younger Duterte said on his personal Facebook account.
Over the weekend, there were rumors already that the ICC would soon issue an arrest order for Duterte. During this time, the former president, his relatives, and key allies flew to Hong Kong to meet overseas Filipino workers.
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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However, several official and independent investigations of the drug war have shown that there were many instances where innocent individuals were dragged into the anti-drug operations.
In August 2017, 17-year-old Kian delos Santos was summarily executed in Caloocan City even if he was not the original target of the operation.
The three police officers involved in the killing of delos Santos were convicted of murder.
READ: 3 policemen guilty of killing Kian delos Santos — court
Despite the claims from Duterte’s allies and relatives, members of the House’s Young Guns bloc said that the arrest order from the ICC is proof that justice catches up to those who commit grave crimes.
“This is a victory for justice and accountability. The ICC warrant is not just symbolic—it is a clear signal that no one is untouchable, not even a former president. Former President Duterte must face the consequences of his actions,” Taguig City 2nd District Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora, Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun, and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon said.
“The Duterte administration’s bloody drug war has long been condemned worldwide. The issuance of an ICC arrest warrant and an Interpol Red Notice means there is no escape from justice,” they added. “They say this is just politics, but the ICC does not issue arrest warrants without substantial evidence. This is not a political stunt—this is justice catching up with the former president.”
