Former President Rodrigo Duterte testifies at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on extrajudicial killings, addressing alleged human rights violations from his administration’s war on drugs on October 28, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA (UPDATED) -- Some lawmakers, including leaders of the House of Representatives, have hailed the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte based on a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity over his war on drugs.

Duterte, 79, was arrested by police officers upon his arrival in Manila from Hong Kong on Tuesday, acting on a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his war on drugs. The former president faces a charge of "the crime against humanity of murder", according to the ICC.

The Presidential Communications Office said the INTERPOL Manila received the official copy of the warrant of arrest from ICC before dawn on Tuesday. 

READ: Ex-President Duterte arrested on ICC warrant

READ: Duterte questions ICC warrant of arrest, demands answers for ‘deprivation of liberty’

In a statement, House Senior Deputy Speaker Pampanga Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. and House Deputy Majority Leader La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V called the arrest "a victory for justice and accountability." 

They believe the move of the ICC shows that not even the former President is above the law.

"The arrest of former President Duterte is a decisive step toward justice. This proves that the international community will not tolerate crimes against humanity, and those responsible for extrajudicial killings must answer for their actions," Gonzales said.

"Justice has no expiration date. The thousands of lives lost in the bloody war on drugs deserve to be remembered, and the arrest of the former President is a testament that impunity will never be permanent," Ortega said.

Gonzales also called on the former President and his allies to stop saying the arrest was "political."

"The ICC operates based on evidence, not politics. This is not about partisanship—this is about justice, accountability, and upholding human rights," Gonzales said.

Lawmakers of the so-called "Young Guns" bloc also lauded the "efficient and peaceful" implementation of the arrest warrant against Duterte.

House Quad Committee Lead Chairperson Surigao Del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said the arrest of Duterte is a step towards healing for families of the thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings.

"Ito ay patunay na sa ating bansa, sa Bagong Pilipinas, na walang sinuman ang nasa ibabaw ng batas. Ang pag-aresto kay dating Pangulong Duterte ay isang hakbang tungo sa katarungan para sa mga pamilyang nawalan ng mahal sa buhay dahil sa EJKs," he said in a statement. 

"Panahon na upang maghilom ang ating bansa. Ang unang hakbang sa paghilom ay ang pagkilala sa mga pagkakamali ng nakaraan at ang pagbibigay ng hustisya sa mga biktima," he added. 

The mega panel led by Barbers has been looking into the Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs.

Last December 2024, the House Quad Comm recommended the filing of crimes against humanity against the former President, which was later adopted by the plenary.

"Sa halip na itaguyod ang hustisya, binuksan nito ang pintuan para sa culture of impunity sa hanay ng ating law enforcers, na isantabi and batas at hustisya sa sa mga suspects pa lang, at pagpapatupad ng karahasan na nagdulot ng pagkamatay ng mga inosenteng mamamayan," Barbers said. The lawmaker said the arrest is a "pivotal moment in the Philippines' pursuit of justice" and will help restore public trust in the justice system.

"Ang pag-aresto na ito ay hindi lamang tungkol sa isang tao. Ito ay tungkol sa pagbabalik ng tiwala ng publiko sa ating sistema ng hustisya at sa pagtiyak na ang mga pang-aabuso, sa pangkasalukuyan man o nuong sa nakaraan ay hindi na mauulit," Barbers said.

Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman said in a press conference on Monday the arrest shows the country respects the law.

"This is proof that the Philippines is a country that respects the rule based order in the world and we uphold the rule of law. Nobody is above the law," she said.

"I think this is also a moral victory for women, especially for those mothers, for those wives, for those daughters who have lost a loved one because people have decided to ignore the rule of law," Roman said as the world marks Women's Month. 

The lawmaker said the investigation of the mega panel on the war on drugs gave victims and their families a platform.

"Nagkaroon ng tinig yung mga biktima nitong war against drugs, yung mga EJKs. Nagkaroon ng tinig ang mga pamilya ng mga biktima. And I would say that actually strengthened the case against the former President," she said.

"I would say na malaki ang ambag ng Quad Com sa paglikom ng ebidensya at mga pruweba na magagamit sa kaso na ito sa ICC," she added.

READ: Families of drug war victims, rights groups hail Duterte's arrest

Nonetheless, the lawmaker called on people to avoid having premature judgments on the matter.

"Kung hindi kayo naniniwala sa mga local courts, at least, bigyan niyo ngchance naman ang ICC… Now it will depend on the judges sa ICC kung made-declare siyang guilty or innocent. So, let's give time to due process also. And you just have to trust the process too," Roman said.

She said it's about time for the country to rejoin the ICC, after Duterte unilaterally withdrew from the ICC's founding treaty in 2019.

"I think this is just a personal suggestion. Lumabas tayo unilaterally from the ICC, I think it's about time bumalik tayo sa ICC at ipakita natin sa buong mundo na itong bansang ito ay gumagalang sa ating mga batas at sa mga international laws," Roman said. 

Meantime, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel welcomed Duterte's arrest which he said is "long-overdue" and "well-deserved." 

"Buti pa nga si Digong, pinagkakaguluhan pa bago makulong. Malayo sa sinapit ng mga biktima ng peke niyang war on drugs at madugong war on dissent. May due process pa sa kanya, due process na pinagkait niya sa libu-libong mahihirap at aktibistang na-'shoot to kill' noong pagkapangulo niya," he said in a statement.

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said the arrest of the former President is a "significant milestone in the pursuit of accountability and justice."

"The arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte marks a concrete step towards accountability and justice for the countless victims of his bloody regime. This should serve as a reminder that those responsible for human rights abuses must face the consequences of their actions," she said in a statement. 

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña said the time has finally come for Duterte to face the allegations against him.

"Hurry up, ICC pala, ha? You asked for it, now here it is. Take full responsibility for the thousands of deaths caused by your bloody and morally bankrupt war on drugs. Wala ka nang kawala. Tama na ang drama. Time’s up! The day of reckoning has come, and there’s no escape from justice," he said in a statement.

"We're relieved that the world finally sees your legacy for what it is — grave human rights abuses, rampant corruption, and a thirst for power… The crimes you committed against humanity will always precede you," Cendaña added. 

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