Caritas Philippines calls on Duterte’s supporters to set aside personal loyalty as he faces ICC trial

Caritas Philippines, the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, has appealed to the supporters and allies of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte to renounce their allegiance to him and stand with the rule of law as he awaits trial in the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity.

“This moment calls for leaders to prioritize justice and the common good over partisan interests,” Caritas Philippines said in a press statement on March 11.

The conference’s social action arm stressed that justice cannot be selective and must apply to all regardless of social and political status.

“The rule of law must prevail,” Caritas Philippines said. “Justice must be served. Let this incident be a turning point for our nation—a step toward healing, accountability, and real change.”

Caritas Philippines has also welcomed the latest developments on the investigations into Duterte’s deadly crackdown on drugs during his term from 2016 to 2022, which claimed the lives of thousands of Filipinos suspected of involvement in illegal drugs.

Police reports indicate that during Duterte's administration, anti-drug operations claimed the lives of over 7,000 people. Most victims were poor men who were shot dead in the streets. However, various groups asserted that the death toll exceeded 30,000. Most of the killings are still unresolved.

In a report published by GMA News on March 26, 2019, Duterte admitted that the illegal drug situation in the country had worsened three years after the deadly crackdown was launched. In another report by GMA News on the same date, the Philippine National Police agreed with Duterte that illegal drugs had exacerbated.

Duterte was taken into custody in Manila on March 11 after the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest. He is the first Philippine leader to have been arrested by the ICC. 

During his 2019 term, Duterte’s administration withdrew the country’s membership in the ICC after it started probing his deadly war on drugs. However, the ICC still has jurisdiction over the matter, as its inquiry focused on the killings that happened while the Philippines was still a member of the court.

Caritas Philippines has called on the Marcos administration to cooperate with the ICC, allow an investigation, and ensure the country's freedom from impunity.

“If the government has nothing to hide, it has nothing to fear,” the conference’s social action arm said.