We, the undersigned overseas Filipinos, welcome the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte for his crimes against humanity committed in his deadly war on drugs and his subsequent transfer to The Hague in the Netherlands to face trial by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Duterte’s arrest is a critical step towards justice and accountability for the victims and families impacted by Duterte’s extrajudicial killing campaigns and war on drugs that claimed the lives of over 30,000 people, and the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos impacted by politically motivated killings and arrests, martial law in Mindanao, counterinsurgency operations, aerial bombings, and de facto martial law in rural areas throughout the Philippines during his 6 year term.

This historic development was made possible through the tireless efforts of the families, people’s lawyers, activists and organizations who refused to let Duterte escape accountability despite the widespread impunity afforded to Duterte at the hands of the Philippine government.

Duterte’s fascist rule has left a lasting impact on Philippine society, and while we know ICC trials may take several years, we overseas Filipinos must ensure that Duterte and his murderous co-conspirators, like Bato dela Rosa, must all be held to account for their crimes against the Filipino people.

We also acknowledge that Marcos Jr. inherited and continues to implement many of Duterte’s repressive policies, including the war on drugs, and is culpable of many of the same crimes that his predecessor is being charged for as evidenced by the findings in the 2024 International People’s Tribunal’s (IPT).

As overseas Filipinos, we are united in the following demands as we seek true justice and accountability for the Filipino people:

1. Prosecute and imprison Duterte!

2. Arrest Bato dela Rosa and Duterte’s other co-perpetrators!

3. Justice for Duterte’s victims and their families!

4. Demand accountability from Marcos Jr. and reinstate the Philippines in the ICC! End human rights violations under his administration, stop the killings, end de facto martial law in the countryside, and dismantle the NTF-ELCAC!