‘VICTORY FOR JUSTICE’
LEADERS of the House of Representatives have lauded the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling it a major victory for justice and accountability.
Senior Deputy Speaker Pampanga Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. and House Deputy Majority Leader La Union Representative Paolo Ortega V said the ICC’s move affirms that no one is above the law—not even a former president.
“The arrest of former President Duterte is a decisive step toward justice,” Gonzales said.
“This proves that the international community will not tolerate crimes against humanity, and those responsible for extrajudicial killings must answer for their actions,” he pointed out.
For Ortega, he emphasized that accountability knows no borders.
“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 said the former president and his allies should stop claiming that 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.
“The Filipino people and the world demand answers, and Duterte must face the consequences of his actions,” Gonzales stressed.
“This is a clear message that no leader can escape justice forever. The rule of law must prevail, and the Philippine government should respect international accountability mechanisms instead of protecting those accused of grave human rights violations,” he said.
Ortega called on the Duterte camp to stop making excuses and instead prepare to face the charges against him.
“Instead of playing the victim, former President Duterte should answer for his actions. The families of the victims deserve justice, and this is just the beginning,” Ortega added.
