Former Vice President Leni Robredo has described the arrest and detention of former President Rodrigo Duterte as a significant move toward accountability for the thousands of Filipinos who lost their lives during his administration’s “war on drugs.”
Robredo, a longtime critic of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, emphasized that the arrest follows due process and ensures that the former president’s rights as an accused individual before the International Criminal Court (ICC) are upheld.
“This is not a matter of politics or personal vendetta, but rather a demonstration of our commitment to upholding the rule of law and human rights,” she said in a statement on Saturday.
She also compared Duterte’s case to that of former Senator Leila de Lima, who was detained for seven years on drug charges before being cleared.
“Let us remember that the pursuit of justice and accountability is not a partisan issue, but a matter of upholding the dignity and rights of all Filipinos,” Robredo added.
Duterte is currently facing charges of crime against humanity of murder before the ICC for alleged extrajudicial killings linked to his anti-drug campaign. The case continues to spark intense political and legal debates both in the Philippines and the international community.
