Thu Mar 13 03:52:21 UTC 2025: ## Duterte’s Arrest Brings Hope, but Demands for Broader Accountability Remain

**Manila, Philippines –** The arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday and his subsequent transfer to The Hague has ignited a wave of both hope and renewed calls for justice among families of victims of his brutal anti-drug campaign. Duterte, arrested at the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC), faces potential trial for crimes against humanity.

Jerica Ann Pico, whose husband was killed during the campaign, described the news as “a fresh breath of life,” stating that justice for the thousands killed under Duterte’s six-year presidency no longer seems unattainable. A Mass attended by several victim’s families in Quezon City served as a poignant reminder of the campaign’s devastating toll, with photographs of the deceased adorning the altar.

While the arrest is a significant step in the ICC’s investigation, many believe accountability must extend beyond Duterte himself. Emily Soriano, whose son was also a victim, emphasized the need to hold others responsible, notably former police chief and current Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who oversaw the crackdown. Dela Rosa’s office has yet to comment, but he and Duterte have petitioned the Supreme Court to halt government cooperation with the ICC.

Official police reports cite 6,200 drug suspects killed during anti-drug operations. However, activists contend the true number is significantly higher, with countless poor and urban drug users, many on official watch lists, killed under mysterious circumstances. Pico’s husband, Mark Anthony Ruivivar, was one such victim, killed by police in 2019 after being placed on a watch list.

Although Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019, the court maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was a member. For families like Pico’s, the arrest offers a glimmer of hope, but their grief over irretrievable loss underscores the deep-seated need for broader justice and accountability for all involved in the bloody anti-drug campaign.

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