“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” – Amos 5:24, NIV
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) strongly opposes any special treatment for the former President Duterte, as regard to his request for an interim release by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The arrest and accommodations of the former president in The Hague are already part of the legal and due process. This stands in stark contrast to the thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings—many of whom were denied even the most basic rights of due process, let alone humane treatment.
Former President Duterte is not facing trivial charges. He is accused of committing a crime against humanity and murder, charges he has, at times, admitted, and acknowledged his role in authorizing. These crimes are not committed alone but rather with the help of an established, well-organized group of people with authority and impunity deeply entrenched in the government. His potential release would not only suggest undue leniency but also send a chilling message to the victims’ families and the broader public: that power may still shield the powerful from accountability.
It is worth recalling that the former president Duterte also had previously stated his readiness for the consequences of his actions and willingness to undergo the ICC process. Yet today, his defense appears focused on undermining the Court’s legitimacy, questioning its jurisdiction, and diminishing the gravity and scale of the alleged crimes.
We also decry efforts by Duterte’s allies to frame the case as politically motivated. This narrative disregards the reality that it was the victims themselves—without government support and in spite of the Duterte administration’s withdrawal from the ICC—who brought the case forward. Their courage, not political ambition, is what fuels this pursuit of justice.
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines stands in solidarity with the victims and their families in their pursuit of justice. The council earnestly prays for a swift trial and the delivery of justice without undue delay. “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” By the wise words from the holy scripture, as stated in Ecclesiastes 8:11 (NIV), “When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.”
Signed:
19 June 2025
(Sgd.) Bishop Joseph G. Agpaoa
Vice-Chairperson
(Sgd.) Ms. Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses
Vice-Chairperson
(Sgd.) Rev. Jon Dave Angeles
Vice-Chairperson
(Sgd.) Rev. Leonardo R. Morada
Corporate Treasurer
(Sgd.) Ms. Minnie Anne M. Calub
General Secretary
