MANILA -- Over a hundred members of various militant groups gathered at Welcome Rotonda, Quezon City on Tuesday afternoon, hours after the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte was arrested by authorities earlier this morning on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with his war on drugs.

Members of BAYAN, Gabriela, Rise Up, Kabataan Partylist, and other militant groups flocked to the area alongside families of extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims.

They gathered to express their support for the former president's arrest, which they consider a "crucial milestone" in their fight for justice.

"May presidente, dating presidente ng Pilipinas, ang naaresto sa bisa ng isang warrant of arrest mula sa International Criminal Court, sa batayan ng crimes against humanity. Ibig sabihin, si Duterte na mamamatay-tao ay pinapanagot ng ICC at siya ay naaresto," said BAYAN Secretary-General Renato Reyes during his speech at the rally.

"Ang mga nanay dito ng mga drug war victims, ilang taon na silang nakikibaka, ilang taon na silang lumalaban kahit tinatakot. Hindi sila kailanman nawalan ng pag-asa, at siguro ngayon marami sa kanila ang natuwa," he added.

They also called on Duterte to face his criminal charges before the court.

Meanwhile, student groups from UP Diliman staged their own protest within the university around lunchtime before converging with the other groups at Welcome Rotonda.