FIRING LINE: Voices of reckoning

By Robert B. Roque, Jr.

Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s days of impunity suddenly came to a halt last Tuesday, when he was arrested by the Philippine National Police by virtue of a warrant received by Interpol-Manila. The ghosts of his vaunted and bloody War on Drugs that left thousands dead came after him. Hours later, he was flown to The Hague to answer to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

Close to midnight, President Bongbong Marcos explained that Duterte’s arrest was the Philippines’ obligation to carry out its commitment to the Interpol.

At this point, I’d like to give this corner’s space to the more eloquent commentary and opinions of those who have long waited for this moment — victims’ families, human rights advocates, and public figures who have stood against Duterte’s reign of violence. Their voices, more than anything, reflect the true sentiments of those most affected and concerned by his actions as president.

Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan welcomed the arrest, calling it a “crucial move toward justice.” He underscored that “true justice is about accountability, transparency, and the protection of human dignity.” His fellow prelate, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, pointed to the systemic nature of Duterte’s deadly policies: “These killings were not random; they were part of a policy that violated the fundamental right to life.”

For former senator Leila De Lima, who spent years behind bars on what she claims were fabricated charges for opposing Duterte, the moment was deeply personal. “We know all too well the devastating consequences of his abuse of power. This is how justice should work —those in power must be held to the same standards as everyone else.”

Congressional candidate representing the Akbayan Partylist and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno minced no words: “For decades, Duterte thought himself untouchable. But history catches up with even the most ruthless despots.” Former senator Antonio Trillanes, who filed a case against Duterte before the ICC in 2017, declared: “After eight years, sa wakas, nahuli na rin ang berdugo. His reign of terror must meet its inevitable end: his conviction.”

While Duterte’s allies decried his arrest, others saw it as an inflection point. House committee chair Ace Barbers remarked, “This is proof that in Bagong Pilipinas, no one is above the law.” Human Rights Watch’s Bryony Lau called it “a critical step for accountability in the Philippines,” urging the Marcos government to ensure his swift surrender to the ICC.

For families of Duterte’s drug war victims, the arrest is a long-awaited reckoning. Randy delos Santos, whose nephew Kian was infamously killed in 2017, said, “Now we feel that justice is rolling.” The sentiment was echoed by ACT Teachers Representative France Castro, who saw it as “a concrete step toward accountability and justice for the countless victims of his bloody regime.”

Duterte once boasted that he would face the ICC. Now, as Senator Risa Hontiveros put it, “I hold on to what former President Duterte said, under oath, that he will face the case in the International Criminal Court. I hope, as a lawyer, he will follow its processes.” The world is watching.

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