Akbayan Party today marked the first year since former President Rodrigo Duterte’s detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling it “a historic milestone in the fight for justice where a mass-murdering tyrant was silenced by the people.”
Akbayan Party President Rafaela David emphasized that this victory was not the result of the dynastic war between the Marcoses and the Dutertes, but the product of years of courage and persistence from ordinary Filipinos.
“This did not fall from the sky. It was not handed to us by warring political dynasties,” David said. “It was won through the relentless struggle of families who lost loved ones, communities who demanded truth, justice and accountability, and ordinary Filipinos who insisted that no one, no matter how powerful, is above the law,” David said.
While the ICC process is still underway, David said that Duterte’s year-long detention has already delivered a moral victory. “For one year now, the Filipino people have been spared the daily spectacle of Duterte’s authoritarian bluster, misogynistic remarks, and violent rhetoric that normalized cruelty and killing in our public life.”
“In many ways, a year without Duterte, who thrived in the limelight and glorified mass violence, is already a victory,” David said.
Akbayan said that Duterte’s absence from the country’s political stage has opened important spaces for the country to confront the culture of violence and impunity that flourished during his presidency.
“While his heirs and minions try to echo his voice and image, they are not the same. Without Duterte himself looming over our politics, we are in a stronger position to expose lies, confront impunity, and hold them accountable. Their reign of impunity is slowly but surely collapsing,” David said.
Akbayan reaffirmed that the struggle for justice continues as the ICC process moves toward a full trial. “Today, we remember Kian Delos Santos and the thousands of EJK victims. We honor the courage of those who fought for justice, and reaffirm that Filipinos will continue demanding accountability until every crime is fully exposed and justice is served,” David said.