The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) strongly supports any action by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to arrest Rodrigo Duterte for the thousands of killings and widespread human rights violations under his brutal “kill, kill, kill” policies from 2016 to 2022. The reported issuance of a red notice by Interpol and a warrant of arrest by the ICC if there are any, are long-overdue steps toward justice for the countless victims of Duterte’s state-sponsored violence and repression.

Duterte arrived from Hongkong this morning and as of this writing, Duterte is reportedly being brought to Camp Crame from NAIA.

Danilo Ramos, KMP chairperson, stated, “Duterte must face the consequences of his crimes. The thousands of victims of his bloody drug war and anti-insurgency campaign, including urban poor, farmers and indigenous peoples, deserve justice. Marcos Jr.’s government should fully cooperate with the ICC and ensure that Duterte is arrested and made to answer for his atrocities.”

KMP also criticized the Marcos administration’s failure to hold Duterte accountable at the national level, calling it a deliberate attempt to protect Duterte from prosecution. The peasant leader also challenged the Marcos government to also file cases against Duterte for the human rights violations committed by his regime that are not included in the ICC complaints and charges.

Ramos added, “Justice cannot be selective. Duterte’s crimes extend beyond the drug war; his policies targeted activists, human rights defenders, and peasant communities under counter-insurgency campaigns like Oplan Kapanatagan and the NTF-ELCAC. His direct orders to ‘kill, kill, kill’ resulted in mass killings, forced evacuations, and state-perpetrated violence. Dapat managot at panagutin si Duterte,” the KMP leader said,

KMP reiterated its demand for justice and accountability, emphasizing that the ICC’s actions are crucial in breaking the cycle of impunity in the Philippines. The peasant organization vowed join protests and campaigns to press the Marcos government to comply with the ICC’s legal processes and arrest Duterte. “The victims and their families have waited long enough. Duterte must answer for his crimes against humanity,” Ramos, also a Makabayan senatorial candidate concluded. ###