For his abominable crimes against the Filipino peasant masses and crimes against humanity, various rural-based groups led by Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) will serve a symbolic People’s Warrant of Arrest against Former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Under Duterte’s term, more than 300 farmers and peasant leaders were killed nationwide, 442 were victims of extrajudicial killings, 574 were victims of frustrated extrajudicial killings and more than 20,000 were victims of indiscriminate firing. There were 22 peasant massacres documented by Tanggol Magsasaka — with Sagay and Guihulngan Massacres in Negros and Tumandok Massacre in Capiz, the Bloody Sunday Massacre in Southern Tagalog, among others. These are on top of more than 30,000 victims of the brutal drug war killings perpetrated by Duterte’s regime and his henchman former PNP Chief, now Senator Bato Dela Rosa.

“Kulang ang mga salita para ilarawan ang pagdurusang sinapit ng mga biktima ng pamamaslang at mga kaanak nila. Nagpatupad si Duterte ng patakarang kill, kill, kill at libu-libo ang pinaslang — mga umano’y nanlaban, mga biktima ng drug war killing, extrajudicial killings kabilang na ang pagpaslang sa mga aktibista, mga Peace Consultants at marami pang iba,” according to peasant leader Danilo Ramos.

“Ang mga biktima ni Duterte at ng malagim na pamamaslang ng estado ay hindi mga numero o pangalan lamang. Sila ay mga tao, mga ina, ama, kapatid at anak na pinaslang ng berdugong rehimeng Duterte. Dapat mabigyan ng hustisya ang pagkamatay nila sa kamay ng state forces — ng CIDG, PNP, at AFP na binusog ni Duterte sa kapangyarihan. Ngayong araw, isisigaw namin ang katarungan kay Randy Echanis na brutal na pinaslang noong Agosto 10, 2020 at katarungan kay Joseph Canlas, iligal na inaresto at ikinulong noong Marso 2021 at namatay habang nakakulong noong Mayo 2021 — mga lider ng KMP na pinaslang ng rehimeng Duterte.”

“Ang hakbang ng ICC na silbihan na ng arrest warrant si Duterte ay isang paunang hakbang sa aming mahabang paghahanap ng katotohanan, pananagutan, at hustisya,” according to Ramos.

The demand for justice for victims of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war killings and extrajudicial killings has been a persistent and pressing issue. Human rights organizations and victims’ families have long called for accountability for the thousands of killings that occurred during Duterte’s bloody presidency. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been actively investigating these alleged crimes against humanity.

In a significant development, Duterte was arrested in Manila today following an ICC warrant. This arrest is viewed as a pivotal step toward achieving justice for the victims. “Duterte’s arrest is a long-awaited acknowledgment of Duterte’s crimes against Filipinos and humanity and a move towards accountability and justice,” Ramos concluded. #