MANILA – House leaders emphasized on Wednesday (12 Mar 2025) that the case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) is about seeking justice for victims of alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, not about persecuting him.
In a press conference, House Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre urged the public to focus on the victims, not on Duterte’s arrest. “Let us focus not on former President Duterte but on the EJK victims. There are so many of them,” Acidre said, referencing the tragic cases of Kian Delos Santos, Carlo Angelo Arnaiz, and Renato “Kulot” De Guzman, who were killed during the anti-drug campaign.
Duterte’s arrest by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) followed the ICC’s investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killings during his tenure as both Davao City mayor and president. Duterte was flown to The Hague, Netherlands, on a chartered plane on Tuesday night.
Acidre clarified that the ICC’s actions are not a surrender of sovereignty but a pursuit of justice. He stressed that Duterte is being held accountable, not persecuted. “This is not harassment against Duterte; the people are simply holding him accountable,” Acidre said.
Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega echoed this sentiment, calling for justice for the victims. “These people who died for no reason were labeled collateral damage. This is a story of justice,” Ortega said. He expressed confidence that more witnesses would come forward as justice becomes more attainable.
Ortega also noted that those who were previously afraid may now be losing their fear and even grappling with their conscience. “More people will come forward,” he said. “Some who were afraid before are now realizing the importance of speaking out.”
The focus remains on justice for the thousands of victims of the drug war, with House leaders reinforcing that accountability for Duterte’s actions is key to achieving it.
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