MANILA – Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers hailed the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, executed under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, as a critical step toward justice and healing for families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during his administration’s war on drugs.
“His arrest is a step toward justice for the families who lost loved ones to EJKs,” Barbers, chair of the House Quad Committee that investigated the drug war, said in a statement. He emphasized that Duterte’s detention sends a message that no one is above the law and helps restore trust in the country’s justice system.
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Manila received the arrest warrant from the ICC on Tuesday, and Duterte was taken into custody upon his arrival from Hong Kong. The former president faces charges of crimes against humanity for the bloody war on drugs, which, according to human rights groups, claimed over 30,000 lives.
Barbers noted that the arrest is a pivotal moment for the nation. “It is time for our country to heal. The first step is acknowledging past mistakes and delivering justice to the victims,” he said.
House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. also supported the arrest, asserting that the international community will not tolerate crimes against humanity. He dismissed claims from Duterte’s allies that the arrest was politically motivated, emphasizing, “The ICC operates based on evidence, not politics. This is about justice, accountability, and upholding human rights.”
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