The former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Dettertecould soon face international justice for its controversial repression program of drug trafficking, which between the 2016 and 2022 led to the death of thousands of people. THE’International Criminal Court (ICC), or the International Criminal Court, reopened the investigation into the alleged crimes against humanitycommitted under his administration and the current government has indicated a possible cooperation with the court of the Hague. Meanwhile, Caritas Filippine, the social arm of Filipino episcopal conferencehe joined the requests of justice, underlining the need for truth, responsibility and transparency.
Drug war: an unprecedented repression
Drette has built his political career around the image of inflexible leader against crime. Already as mayor of Davaoin the south of the Philippines, had imposed extreme measures to maintain the order, earning the nickname “The Punisher” (The punisher). His presidential campaign of 2016 He was based on promises of zero tolerance Against drug trafficking, with public declarations such as: «Forget human rights laws. If I arrive at the presidency, I will do exactly what I did as mayor. You dealers, robbers and slackers, you would do better to leave. Because I will kill you ». After his election, Detterte ordered the police to launch one extrajudicial executions campaignaiming for suspicions and drug addicts. In the First year of presidencybeyond 2,000 people They were killed in official police operations, but the real number, according to human rights activists, is much higher.
According to official data of the Filipino government, the war on drugs caused the death of 6,248 peoplewhile independent organizations estimate that the actual number can exceed 30,000 victims. Many of the dead belonged to the poorest bands of the population and appeared in Police surveillance listsoften without concrete evidence of their involvement in drug trafficking. The investigations of journalists and activists have shown that in numerous cases the victims had been executed and subsequently classified as deceased for “natural causes”. In an emblematic case, a family has exhumed the body of a relative officially died of pneumonia, discovering that he had a bullet hole in the skull.
In the 2018the International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced a preliminary investigation into the Detterte campaign, assuming the configuration of crimes against humanity. In response, Detterte ordered the output of the Philippines from the ECT in 2019claiming that the Court had no jurisdiction on his actions.
However, according to the rules of the EIC, the court maintains jurisdiction on the crimes committed while the Philippines were still part of the Rome Statute. After a suspension in 2021the investigation was reopened in 2023following the finding that the Filipino judicial system was not leading credible investigations into the extrajudicial killings.
In the 2025the signs of a possible arrest warrant for Drette have intensified. The current government, led by the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.initially refused cooperation with the ICC, but at the end of the 2024 He changed his position, declaring that he would follow international law. Duterte, currently returning from Hong Kongsaid he was ready to arrestclaiming to accept the responsibility of his actions. However, political observers doubt its real intention of delivery.
The relatives of the victims of the war on drugs and extrajudicial executions hold candles in hand during a mass following the arrest of the former Filipino president Rodrigo Drette, at Quezon City, Filippine © Reuters
Caritas Filippine: “Justice must prevail”
There Caritas FilippineFor years, engaged in the defense of the victims of the war on drugs, he welcomed the developments of the investigation, asking Drette to respect the laws and face the consequences of his actions.
The president of Caritas Filippine, Monsignor Jose Colin Bagaforosaid: «For years, former President Detterte said he was ready to face the consequences of his actions. Now it’s time for him to prove it ».
Caritas reiterated the need for a transparent and impartial justicecondemning the impunity that allowed the indiscriminate killings under the Dtterte administration. The bishop Gerardo Alminazavice -president of Caritas Filippine, added: «These murders have not been random; They were part of a policy that violated the fundamental right to life. The families of the victims deserve truth, repair and justice ».
The Filipino Catholic Church has also urged the government a collaborate fully with the ICCensuring that the Philippines do not remain a country where impunity is the norm. Caritas also launched an appeal to the supporters of Detterte, inviting them to put justice above the political loyalty. «Justice cannot be selective. It must apply to everyone, regardless of power or position ».
The possible arrest of Detterte would represent a historical moment for the Philippines and for international justice. If the Filipino government is to maintain the promise of cooperation with the ICC, the case could become a previous for the pursuit of state crimes all over the world. On the other hand, many supporters of Drette see the procedure as a political attackand its arrest could trigger internal tensions in the country. However, for the thousands of families who have lost their loved ones during drug war, this could be the first opportunity to get justice and truth. As Caritas Filippine said: «If the government has nothing to hide, it has nothing to fear. Respect for the law must prevail. Justice must be served “.
The arrest of Rodrigo Detterte will mark The beginning of a new era for the Philippines Or will a coincidence remain without consequences? The international community awaits an answer.
