San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza and Bayan Negros welcomed the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on his return from Hong Kong Tuesday morning, March 11.
“The rule of law must prevail. Justice must be served. Let this be a turning point for our nation – a step toward healing, accountability, and real change,” Alminaza said.
Duterte, 79, was served a warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over allegations of crimes against humanity in his bloody war against illegal drugs.
A chartered plane bringing Duterte to The Hague, Netherlands, where he is expected to face the ICC Court took off from the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City Tuesday night.
His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, in a statement said “today, our own government has surrendered a Filipino citizen – even a former President at that – to foreign powers. This is a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino who believes in our nation’s independence”.
“As I write this, he is being forcibly taken to The Hague tonight. This is not justice – this is oppression and persecution. This act shows the world that this government is willing to abandon its own citizen and betray the very essence of our sovereignty and national dignity,” she said.
Caritas Philippines, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines social action arm, welcomes the latest developments concerning the investigation into Duterte’s war on drugs, which resulted in thousands of deaths, many of which remain unresolved, Alminaza, Caritas vice chairperson, said.
Caritas Philippines reiterates its long-standing call for justice for victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the Duterte anti-drug campaign, he said.
“These killings were not random, they were part of a policy that violated the fundamental right to life,” Alminaza said.
“The families of the victims deserve truth, reparations, and justice. As a nation, we must ensure that such crimes never happen again”, he added.
He said Caritas appeals not only to Duterte’s supporters but also to his political allies, especially members of his party, to set aside personal loyalty and choose to stand with the rule of law.
“This moment calls for leaders to prioritize justice and the common good over partisan interests. Justice cannot be selective; it must apply to all, regardless of power or position,” Alminaza said.
Bayan Negros said the arrest of Duterte for crimes against humanity is a welcome move but a long overdue step towards justice.
Duterte “waged an all-out war not just in the cities through his fake drug war but also in the countryside, where his counterinsurgency campaign turned entire communities into killing fields,” Bayan Negros deputy spokesperson Berlita Ante said.
“His reign of terror left a trail of massacres, killings, coordinated raids, illegal arrests, and forced displacement,” she said.
Among those killed in Negros were peasant leader Alexander Ceballos, human rights worker Zara Alvarez, land reform advocate Toto Patigas, and human rights lawyer Ben Ramos, she said.
“Their murders were not random acts of violence but part of a systematic campaign of repression designed to crush dissent and terrorize the people into submission,” she added.
“The ICC arrest is just the beginning. Duterte must be convicted, and all those who carried out his orders, especially those still sitting in power, must be held accountable. Without continued public pressure, the case would not prosper and justice could be denied once again,” the Bayan Negros statement said.
Vice President Sara Duterte, must also face accountability, it added.
“The impeachment proceedings against her must push through, and she must answer for corruption, plunder, and abuse of power. The Duterte dynasty and its enablers must be permanently dismantled so they can never again return to power,” Bayan Negros said.
Former president Duterte arrived in the Philippines via Cathay Pacific flight CX 907 from Hong Kong at 9:20 a.m. Tuesday.
The PCO assured that the 79-year-old former president was in good health and was immediately examined by government doctors upon his arrival.
PDP Laban senatorial candidate Jayvee Hinlo, a Negrense, in a Facebook post said “I condemn those Filipinos who have plotted and acted to surrender our Tatay Digong to a foreign court and to deprive him of his Constitutional right to due process under Philippine Law. In my eyes you are the traitor”.*