On the first anniversary of Duterte’s arrest, rights organizations commemorated the event by calling for the confirmation of crimes against humanity charges against him
Families of victims of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war gathered in Quezon City on Wednesday to put up “Wanted” posters for the arrest of his co-perpetrators identified by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On the first anniversary of Duterte’s arrest, the families and their supporters said it is time Senators Ronald de la Rosa and Christopher Go as well as other officials are arrested to join their former boss in prison at The Hague.
“The arrest of Duterte remind us that fascism has no place in a democratic society and accountability must reach the highest levels of government,” the Duterte Panagutin Network said.
The network said Duterte’s arrest was a historic moment for justice and accountability and it was brought about by the “relentless efforts of the victims’ families, lawyers and advocates, who turned their grief into courage, amid the climate of impunity and persisted in the struggle for justice.”
After several attempts by his defense team question the ICC’s jurisdiction over Duterte or to be granted temporary release, the former president faced confirmation of charges of crimes against humanity.
The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber is expected to issue its decision on whether Duterte would face full trial by the end of April.
Duterte’s supporters meanwhile picketed the Philippine Supreme Court urging the tribunal to issue its verdict on whether the former president’s ICC arrest was illegal or was in order.
In Davao City, Vice President Sara Duterte and his siblings organized a Catholic Mass to mark the first year since their father was hauled to The Netherlands.
The younger Duterte claimed that the entire Philippines is angry at the supposed kidnapping of the former leader.
“[It’s] unthinkable that a government, no matter the political differences with the administration, would send a citizen to a foreign jurisdiction to be detained and tried for crimes against humanity,” the vice president told reporters after the Mass.
Sara said the charges against their father “have no bases and no valid witnesses.”
“So, the people are angry. They’ve been angry for a year now, and their anger wouldn’t subside until former president Duterte’s return),” she said.
The organizers of the anti-Duterte event in Quezon City however the elder Duterte’s arrest was partial victory and the first step towards justice.
“We powered through, despite the gauntlet of intimidation and harassment experienced by the kin of the victims and the calculated delaying tactics from the Duterte camp. Our solidarity created a powerful movement across Filipino communities here and abroad,” the network said.
“We continue to stand with the victims until Duterte is convicted and all his co-perpetrators are likewise arrested, tried, and convicted,” it added. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)