Filipinos gathered today, Wednesday, March 12 (Manila time), outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, demanding justice for the thousands of lives lost during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs from 2011 to 2019.
The former president was arrested on March 11, 2025, at Manila’s airport under an ICC warrant for crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign. As of this writing, he is en route to the Netherlands, where he will face trial at the ICC.
The protest outside the ICC drew a diverse group of organizations, including Bayan Muna Europe, Gabriela, Migrante Europe, and others advocating for justice and accountability.
One of the speakers, Julia Picazo, a Filipina based in the Netherlands, emphasized the significance of March 11 and 12, calling this moment a “people’s victory” achieved through the relentless efforts of victims, families, lawyers, and human rights organizations.
Picazo acknowledged the challenges but stressed that perseverance has led to this crucial step toward accountability, bringing former President Duterte before the ICC.
She also highlighted the widespread human rights violations under Duterte’s administration, including bombings in villages, forced evacuations, and the extrajudicial killings of activists—whom Duterte dismissed as mere “collateral damage.”
“Where is the justice in that?” Picazo asked, underscoring the continuing fight for accountability as countless cases remain uninvestigated.I Nicole Castillo
Photos: Tess Fajardo