Duterte’s Arrest: A Triumph for People’s Justice and Accountability!

Statement of the ILPS in collaboration with the ILPS Commission on peoples’ rights

The International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) welcomes with great militancy and resolve the arrest of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte for his crimes against humanity, mass murder, and brutal repression of the Filipino people. For far too long, Duterte has evaded justice, hiding behind the bloody machinery of state terror and impunity. Now, as the wheels of justice turn, the people’s collective rage, resistance, and struggle have dealt a decisive blow against fascist tyranny.

During his Presidency, Duterte declared all-out war against the Filipino masses by continuing the US-backed counterinsurgency campaign in the countryside that all previous Philippine Presidents waged with an iron fist. Rural bombings, hamletting of communities, food blockades, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings plagued the peasants, indigenous peoples, and rural communities under Duterte’s bloody martial law in Mindanao and de facto martial law across the entire country.

Under Duterte’s regime, tens of thousands fell victim to his Oplan Tokhang drug war killings, orchestrated extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and relentless persecution of activists, journalists, indigenous leaders, and ordinary citizens. The Philippine National Police and Duterte’s private paramilitary death squads were emboldened to commit massacres while he silenced his opposition in the courts. His crimes are not only against the Filipino people but against humanity itself.

Duterte made it clear that he never wanted peace in the Philippines, and only intended to defeat the Philippine revolutionary movement and crush his political opposition. He weaponized the law to silence dissent, unleashing a reign of terror against those who dared to resist his oppressive rule. His Anti-Terror Law put a target on activists’ backs, including National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultants, in violation of international humanitarian law. He feigned willingness to open up peace talks with the revolutionary movement but delayed and stifled them at every turn. He took the war against the people and drove it to nightmarish proportions.

The ILPS salutes all victims, families, and human rights defenders who, despite grave threats and repression, never wavered in their pursuit of justice. This arrest is a testament to the people’s unbreakable resistance and the growing international condemnation of fascist rule. But this is only the beginning. Duterte must be held fully accountable and face the full force of the people’s justice.

We call on all democratic and anti-imperialist forces worldwide to remain vigilant and ensure that Duterte and his co-conspirators—his generals, police chiefs, and enablers—are brought to justice. There must be no escape, no deals, and no impunity for the mass murderer and butcher of the Filipino people!

As we celebrate this victory, we reaffirm our commitment to the struggle against fascism, imperialism, and all forms of oppression. The people’s fight for justice, dignity, and liberation continues!

Hold Duterte accountable! Justice for all victims of state terror! Long live the people’s struggle!

Signed,

ILPS in collaboration with the ILPS Commission on Peoples’ Rights