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Anti-Duterte protesters march from ICC to detention center
THE HAGUE – Protesters against former President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, March 17 (March 18, PH time), held a candlelight vigil and prayer ceremony for victims of alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
“Justice. Hustisya. Katarungan. Dutchgerechtigheid,” the protesters chanted as they marched from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the Hague Penitentiary Institution, where Duterte is currently detained under the custody of the ICC while awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity.
The protesters comprise Filipinos based in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom from different organizations, such as Pinay sa Holland Gabriela, Bayan Europe, Migrante Netherlands and Balik/Bayan NL.
Outside the penitentiary, speakers recounted the violence and impunity linked to Duterte’s war on drugs based on the testimonies of the families of alleged victims.
Patricia Enriquez, a member of the Pinay in Holland Gabriela group, said they immediately organized the gathering after hearing about the former president’s arrest and transfer to the Netherlands.
“Agad-agad po kaming nag-organisa para ipaglaban ang karapatan at hustisya para sa mga namatay nu'ng panahon ng administrasyon ni dating Pangulong Duterte,” Enriquez said.
(We immediately organized to fight for the rights and call for justice for the victims who died during the administration of former president Duterte.)
Enriquez added that they want to commemorate the alleged victims and assure their families back home that there are people fighting for them here in the Netherlands.
For some of the protesters, the arrest and detention of Duterte mark a turning point in their fight for accountability.
“Ngayon, masaya po kaming lahat at tinatanggap po namin itong pag-aresto sa kanya at pagdala sa kanya dito sa ICC,” Enriquez said.
(Now we are all happy and we accept his arrest and detention by the ICC.)
Duterte’s arrest also shook the Filipino community in the Netherlands, Enriquez said.
“Kapag naalala natin ‘yung mga kwento nila [alleged victims], mapapatigil ka na lang, at gusto mo talagang ipaglaban ang hustisya dahil alam mong ‘yun ang tama,” Enriquez said.
(When we remember the stories [of the alleged victims], you just stop, and you want to fight for justice because you know that is the right thing to do.)
As the next ICC hearing approaches on September 23, the protest organizers said they vow to sustain their efforts beyond street protests. They said they are also planning to hold open forums and educational sessions to help the public understand the legal proceedings and prevent misinformation from spreading.
“Magkakaroon po kami ng mga oportunidad para maintindihan ng tao ang mga susunod na proseso,” Enriquez said.
(We will have opportunities for the public to understand the next processes.)
The ICC has been investigating Duterte and other top officials of his administration for crimes against humanity over the alleged systematic drug war deaths in police operations.
These deaths reached around 6,000 based on police records, but human rights groups contend that the deaths were as much as 30,000, including vigilante killings.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 and turned over to ICC custody in The Hague on March 12
The former president faced via video link the ICC on March 14. The court read to Duterte the charges against him related to the killings under his administration's war on drugs. He was also informed of his rights under the Rome Statute.
The next hearing on the confirmation of the charges has been set for Sept. 23, 2025. —KG, GMA Integrated News
