Mark Villar hopes for fairness, compassion for Duterte after ICC arrest

Senator Mark Villar on Thursday lamented the arrest of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte and appealed for "fairness" and "compassion" for the 79-year-old former leader.

On his Facebook page, Villar said he was saddened that Duterte’s position to be tried in his own country was not granted.

“Mr. President, I hope that you are in good health and being treated well. I’m sad that your simple wish to be judged by the Filipino people did not reach fruition. I continue to pray that you will be given the fairness and compassion that all Filipinos deserve,” the post said.

The senator recalled how they helped an engineer whose daughter was battling cancer as he vouched for Duterte’s “character and compassion to others.”

Villar served as Public Works secretary during Duterte’s term, pursuing the infrastructure program dubbed “Build, Build, Build.” 

Villar won a seat in the upper chamber in 2022 after running under the slate of the now separated “UniTeam.” 

The “UniTeam” was led by former allies— then-presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and then-vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte. 

On March 11, a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC) was served by Philippine authorities against Duterte for allegedly committing crimes against humanity over his bloody drug war. 

In a press briefing late in the evening of March 11, Marcos said the arrest was done “because Interpol asked us to do it and we have commitments.”

During Duterte’s term in 2019, the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, after the tribunal started a probe into his drug war

Duterte is now in the custody of the ICC in The Hague, the Netherlands for his alleged "crimes against humanity" linked to deaths during his administration's war on drugs.

According to the arrest warrant, the ICC pre-trial chamber found reasonable grounds to believe he was "individually responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder" in connection with the killings blamed on his war on drugs.

It stated that the Duterte Death Squad (DDS) and Philippine law enforcement personnel under his leadership targeted persons allegedly involved in drug-related criminal activities.

Government records show that there were at least 6,000 drug suspects killed in police operations from June 2016 to November 2021, but several human rights groups have refuted this and said that the number may have reached as much as 30,000 due to unreported related killings.

After Duterte’s arrest, relatives of individuals killed during Duterte’s drug war were in tears of joy as they sensed a semblance of justice.

Meanwhile, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero commended the Philippine Embassy in The Hague for assisting Duterte as he arrived in the Netherlands for his detention in the ICC facilities. 

Escudero noted the embassy’s proactive measures, including the provision of winter clothing, care packages, and logistical support for the former President and his delegation, saying this is a testament to the Department of Foreign Affairs’ professionalism.

“The Embassy’s commitment to safeguarding the dignity and well-being of every Filipino is truly commendable. From attending to logistical details to liaising with Dutch authorities, their unwavering service exemplifies the Filipino spirit of bayanihan. I extend my gratitude to Ambassador Malaya and the entire Philippine mission for their unwavering dedication,” he said.

“Their swift and thoughtful actions reflect the values we hold dear as a nation—care, respect, and solidarity,” he added.

Escudero also expressed confidence that the embassy will do the same to Vice President Sara Duterte, who arrived in The Hague this morning, and to other family members who may visit the former leader.—LDF, GMA Integrated News