Former Vice President Leni Robredo and former Senator Leila de Lima addressed the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, drawing comparisons to De Lima’s incarceration.
Speaking in a press conference in Bicol, Robredo described Duterte’s legal situation as a step toward accountability and justice, echoing what De Lima endured. She noted the stark difference between De Lima’s detention, where she lacked access to basic communication tools, and Duterte’s current legal process under the International Criminal Court (ICC).
De Lima, who was imprisoned for nearly seven years on drug-related charges before being acquitted, expressed no objection to Duterte’s arrest. She cited Republic Act No. 9851, which allows Philippine authorities to surrender individuals to an international tribunal. She also referenced a Supreme Court ruling affirming the ICC’s jurisdiction over crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member before its withdrawal in 2019.
For De Lima, Duterte’s arrest is deeply personal, as she was jailed for criticizing his war on drugs. She called it a long-overdue moment of justice.
Duterte, accused of crimes against humanity in connection with the drug war that killed thousands, recently appeared before the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I. The arrest warrant, issued by the ICC and relayed through Interpol, was the basis for his detention.
Government data places the death toll from Duterte’s drug war at around 6,000, while human rights groups estimate the number to be over 20,000.
