DE
DE

PHILIPPINES
CALD hails Duterte's Arrest as a Step Towards Justice

CALD considers the arrest of Duterte as a testament that no one is above the law and that justice eventually finds its way to address impunity and blatant disregard for human rights.
1.7 Minutes
CALD Statement

CALD Statement on Duterte's Arrest

© Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) welcomes the arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte following the issuance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for alleged crimes against humanity. The Philippine government confirmed the receipt of the ICC arrest warrant and served it accordingly, signaling a pivotal moment in the pursuit of justice for the victims of Duterte’s controversial war on drugs and the widespread extrajudicial killings that occurred in its wake.

CALD believes that an ICC trial is essential to bring to light the depravity of these summary executions and to hold accountable all those who actively participated to commit such deplorable acts. We trust that the Philippine government will cooperate fully to the ICC to ensure the speedy resolution of the case.

During Duterte’s term, CALD had consistently condemned in the strongest terms the spate of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines as a result of the war on drugs.  As early as 2016, at the beginning of Duterte’s presidency, CALD emphasized that while the fight against illegal drugs and criminality are valid state goals, law enforcement efforts must always respect the rule of law and the country’s human rights obligations.

CALD supports the statement made by former Philippine Senator Leila de Lima, a vocal critic of the abuses committed during Duterte’s “war on drugs.”

Today, Duterte is being held accountable – not to me, but to the victims, their families, and a world that refuses to forget. This is not about vengeance. It’s about justice being served.

Leila de Lima
De Lima, who was wrongfully imprisoned for seven years on fabricated drug charges.

CALD considers the arrest of Duterte as a testament that no one is above the law and that justice eventually finds its way to address impunity and blatant disregard for human rights. At the conclusion of the ICC trial, we are hopeful that justice will finally be served to thousands of victims of the deadly drug war.

 

*Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) is a partner association of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Southeast and East Asia Office.

Close menu