“…you have been weighed on scales and you have been found wanting” – Daniel 5:27, NIV
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) welcomes the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte following the issuance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant in connection with the thousands of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, under crimes against humanity. We join the Filipino people in acknowledging this significant development as a step towards justice.
In an attempt to evade accountability, the Philippines withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which took effect on March 19, 2019. However, the ICC retained jurisdiction over the country for acts committed before its withdrawal. As a result, the ICC continues to exercise jurisdiction over the violent crimes filed against the former President, covering the period when the Philippines was still a state party, specifically from November 1, 2011, to March 2019.
As early as December 2016, the NCCP was one of the organizations that spoke out against President Duterte’s sham war on drugs alongside Rise Up for Rights and Life (Rise Up). For the NCCP, this arrest brought President Duterte and his cohorts closer to accountability after eight grueling years of pursuing justice.
We commend our partner organization, Rise UP, for their tireless and selfless commitment in accompanying and working with the mothers and family members of victims of Tokhang, who have cried for justice many times over. Their unwavering resolve, in the face of a pervasive culture of impunity, serves as a beacon of hope for the Filipino people who have tirelessly demanded justice and accountability for these grave human rights violations.
It is our prayer as a Council that the developments that will follow shall be guided by the principle of due process, a foundational principle of justice that thousands of poor Filipinos were deprived of during the violent and sham “drug war”. We hope that this serves as an inspiration for all and that truth and justice will prevail in the end, thus, reinforcing the lesson that authoritarian regimes and their supporters shall not endure forever.
We urge all Filipinos to remain steadfast in our prayers for the nation’s well-being and to stay vigilant until the ultimate triumph of justice is achieved. With our shared memory, let our faith guide us to always stand on the right side of history, to be in solidarity with the real victims of these senseless atrocities alongside their families and loved ones who have courageously and relentlessly pursued justice.
And so, we echo and pray:
“The Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
— Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)
13 March 2025
(Sgd.) The Most Rev. Brent Harry W. Alawas
Acting Chairperson
(Sgd.) Ms. Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses
Vice-Chairperson
(Sgd.) Pastor Jon Dave A. Angeles
Vice Chairperson
(Sgd.) Rev. Leonardo R. Morada
Treasurer
(Sgd.) Ms. Minnie Anne M. Calub
General Secretary
