NAGA CITY – Former President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested and is now facing serious accusations of murder at the International Criminal Court (ICC) because of his deadly war on drugs. Two important leaders, former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and former Vice President Leni Robredo, say that this is simply due process—meaning Duterte is being treated fairly under the law, just like any accused person should be.
What Is Due Process?
Due process means that anyone accused of a crime has the right to a fair trial. They can defend themselves, have a lawyer, and present their side of the story in court.
De Lima explained that this is exactly what many people wanted for the thousands of victims of Duterte’s drug war—people who were killed without a chance to defend themselves.
“Duterte is lucky to have this chance. The thousands of people who died in his war on drugs were never given that right,” de Lima said in a press conference with Robredo.
Why Is Duterte on Trial?
Duterte’s case is based on Philippine laws and international agreements. Here’s what happened:
- In 2009, the Philippines created a law called Republic Act 9851, which allows international courts to handle cases involving serious crimes like genocide and crimes against humanity.
- In 2011, the Philippines joined the International Criminal Court (ICC), meaning it agreed to follow the ICC’s rules.
- In 2018, Duterte decided to withdraw the Philippines from the ICC, but the process took a year, officially ending in 2019.
- However, the Supreme Court later ruled that the ICC still has the power to investigate crimes that happened before the Philippines left.
- Since Duterte’s alleged crimes happened between 2011 and 2019, the ICC still has the right to put him on trial.
“Duterte’s team is complaining about fairness, but if you watched the ICC hearings, you’ll see that he is getting due process,” de Lima added.
Duterte vs. De Lima: A Big Difference in Treatment
Leni Robredo compared Duterte’s current situation to what happened to de Lima. De Lima was arrested in 2017 over drug charges she says were false. She spent almost seven years in jail before being cleared of all charges.
Robredo pointed out how Duterte’s detention is much better than what de Lima went through:
He has access to a computer He is in good living conditions He can move freely He gets family and conjugal visits
Meanwhile, de Lima’s detention was much harsher:
Limited visits from her family and friends Only allowed to watch a movie once a week Was even held hostage by a dangerous prisoner
“She endured all of this because she respected due process. She faced the charges, no matter how unfair they were. Duterte is now experiencing just the first step of justice,” Robredo said.
What Happens Next?
Since his arrest, Duterte’s legal team has been filing petitions with the Supreme Court in hopes of canceling his arrest and bringing him back to the Philippines. However, it’s up to the ICC and the courts to decide his fate.
Meanwhile, Robredo is supporting de Lima’s bid for Congress. De Lima is now running as the first nominee of Mamamayang Liberal, a political group that aims to represent marginalized people.
“I’m voting for Mamamayang Liberal not just because I’m a Liberal, but because I believe in Leila de Lima. We’ve seen how strong and capable she is,” Robredo said.
The case against Duterte is one of the biggest legal battles in Philippine history. While his supporters argue that he should not be tried, others believe this is an important step toward justice for the thousands of people who lost their lives during his war on drugs.
