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he International Criminal Court (ICC) said that Rodrigo Duterte's rights as an accused have been upheld, contrary to the claims by the former president's counsel Salvador Medialdea.
"The arrest is something, a message to the leaders that impunity is not forever."
UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor and Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard have emphasized the importance of this moment for the victims of Duterte's controversial "war on drugs," calling for further accountability and legal action. As Duterte prepares for his initial hearing on March 14, the international community has urged continued efforts to address ongoing human rights violations in the Philippines.
“The hospital is a place for healing, not a detention center, and certainly not a venue for intimidation and harassment,” indigenous peoples’ group Katribu, the lead of the search and humanitarian mission, said.
Meanwhile, Oceana acting vice-president Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio reminds local government officials and all enforcement agencies to continue fulfilling their statutory mandate to protect the 15-kilometer municipal waters from commercial fishing operations.
“Marcos should show that this is part of an effort against impunity. So, it’s important for him to file cases, not just against Duterte, but also against others. It’s important to reverse the legacy of impunity that Duterte laid down. This way, people can say, 'It’s not just politics.' This is really about addressing the problem of impunity."
“We will not be swayed. Our loved ones were killed, mercilessly desecrated and it was inhumane. Until now, the situation of the victims’ families is still not good,” Jane Lee, who lost her husband in Duterte’s “war on drugs” said.
“We condemn the military’s ploys and urge them to uphold transparency in accordance with Republic Act No. 10353—especially if they have nothing to hide,” the fact-finding team stated.
“The recent stoppage of one of the major quarries in Sitio Suntingon, Barangay Bugo, marks a significant victory for the community, demonstrating the power of determination and the unwavering pursuit of truth.”
These films are more than just stories; they are acts of resistance.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines International Office said that Duterte’s crimes are beyond his so-called “war on drugs,” pointing out that his government carried out systematic killings of its peace consultants, aerial bombings of civilian communities, and the torture and execution of captured Red fighters (hors de combat). These, they added, are all in blatant disregard of the laws of war.
“There are mixed emotions among all the families of the victims. We hope that Bato and Go will be included as well. This is the day of reckoning for the powerful Duterte, who mercilessly took the lives of our loved ones."
“Until Enriquez is surfaced and Campos is granted immediate access to her family and lawyers, their rights and safety remain at risk,” said the team in a statement.
“It was nerve-wracking, especially since it was our first time and it was inside the company. But once we were there, we had no choice but to be brave. We had to stand firm—no one would give up,” a Nexperia woman worker said.
“The Filipino people are suffering while the cronies and allies of Marcoses enrich themselves.”
Based on a series of videos posted by Karapatan Southern Tagalog, alleged military intelligence agents interrogated the caretaker of the lodging occupied by the team on February 26. There were also reports of unidentified men on a motorcycle following the humanitarian team as they entered and left Pola. Meanwhile, in Bulalacao, suspected intelligence agents were seen taking pictures of the team without their consent. When confronted, they quickly fled.
Media groups in Albay province reminded a Bicol-based government official on the role of private media outlets and the free press not being a threat in dealing with public scrutiny.
“In its name alone, we know the reason for the intensified militarization there. ‘Mina de oro,’ we know that it is derived from the characteristics of the island: a large reserve of minerals in the country,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan. The province is known for mineral resources such as gold, iron, copper, nickel, chromite, and marble.
Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment said that the moratorium is not only a victory for the people of Palawan but for all Filipino communities resisting destructive mining.
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