Family, neighbors, and supporters of Kian delos Santos pay tribute at the site where he was slain at in Caloocan City on August 15, 2018. Delos Santos was killed after being apprehended by police during their anti-drug campaign. George Calvelo, ABS CBN News/file

MANILA — The families of individuals killed in the last administration’s drug war were emotional, as they welcomed the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, which for many of them is an “answered prayer for justice”.

They gathered at the Sacred Heart Parish in Kamuning, Quezon City for a thanksgiving and healing mass.

Among them is Randy delos Santos, the uncle of Kian delos Santos, the 17-year-old, who was killed in a police operation in 2017, after being accused of involvement in an illegal drug transaction.

Delos Santos said unlike his nephew, Duterte is fortunate to have been given the opportunity to defend himself before the International Criminal Court, over allegations of crimes against humanity in connection with the thousands killed in his administration’s bloody anti-drug campaign.

“‘Yung aking pamangkin eh, hindi nga nadala sa korte. Ang daming akusasyon na ibinato noong pinatay ito,” Delos Santos said in an interview.

“Masaya kami. Dahil ito ‘yung ilang taon na naming iniintay. Managot, ‘yung dapat managot…Kahit kailan, hindi ako nawalan ng pag-asa at kahit kailan, naniniwala ako sa katarungan,” he added.

For Father Flavie Villanueva, who led the mass, Duterte’s arrest is a reminder that justice can triumph.

“March 11, 2025 po, itatak natin sa ating mga isip at puso, tagumpay ng katarungan, tagumpay na para sa ating lahat, paalala na hindi magtatagumpay ang kadiliman,” Villanueva of Project Paghilom said.

Another thanksgiving mass was held at the Ina ng Lupang Pangako Parish in Payatas, Quezon City, on Tuesday afternoon. Families marched to the altar carrying photos of their departed loved one, who were killed in the drug war.

“Natutuwa po kami… at nagpasalamat ako kay Lord na nagkaroon ng katarungan ‘yung pagpapapatay ni Duterte sa anak ko na hindi dapat…. Sinundo na lang po ako sa bahay, ‘yung anak ko nakatihaya na lang sa kalsada… Puro likod ang tama,” Teresita Campo, the mother of Jonald, who was killed in November 2016, said tearfully.

“Nasisiyahan din ang damdamin ko, pero maski na ganoon, masakit sa damdamin ko, dahil ang mga apo ko naghihirap din,” said an emotional Maria Belen Daa, whose son Marcelo, was killed in a police operation in August 2016.

“Pagbayaran niya lahat ‘yung mga dapat pagbayaran niya. Dahil ‘yung mga tao doon, pwede namang ikulong ‘yun. Dapat hindi niya pagpapatayin, dahil kawawa naman, para makaisip pa na magbago. Bigyan nila ng pagkakataon. Pero wala eh,” she added.

Duterte on Tuesday was arrested by authorities in the Philippines based on a warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court for the thousands of alleged state-sanctioned killings under his war on drugs that could amount to a crime against humanity.