Vice President Sara Duterte called for respect for the Philippines’ national sovereignty and uphold integrity and justice, as she marked the first anniversary of the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and his transfer to The Hague on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

In a statement, the Vice President said the anniversary of the former president’s arrest should serve as a wake-up call for Filipinos to remain vigilant and ensure that government institutions stay independent, honest, and resilient against any attempt to undermine justice.

“Ngayong araw, ginugunita natin ang unang anibersaryo ng isang kaganapang sumubok sa ating demokrasya at sa mga prinsipyo ng due process at rule of law,” the Vice President said.

The former President was arrested on March 11, 2025 in the Philippines by virtue of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s war against illegal drugs.

The Vice President maintained that the arrest was an “extraordinary rendition or kidnapping” and a reminder that the law should never be used as a weapon for political or personal interests.

She said a truly independent nation relies on institutions that are free from external interference and capable of resisting efforts to distort the rule of law.

“Ang isang tunay na malayang bansa ay pinapatakbo ng sariling mga institusyon na malaya mula sa anumang panlabas na panghihimasok o dikta,” she added.

The Vice President also called on the public to continue defending the country’s dignity.

“Walang sinumang Pilipino ang dapat pagkakaitan ng proteksyon ng ating Saligang Batas. Sama-sama nating itaguyod ang isang Pilipinas kung saan ang batas ay kalasag ng katarungan at ang ating soberanya ay iginagalang ng lahat,” the Vice President said.

Meanwhile, Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte also called on the public to remember how his father’s act of goodwill was repaid with supposed betrayal.

The lawmaker said it was his father who allowed the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, a move, he said, was made in the spirit of reconciliation and unity.

However, Congressman Duterte said his father was taken from the country and flown to The Hague, which he claimed reflected “political vengeance over gratitude.”

“Instead of gratitude, what the Filipino people witnessed was betrayal. Instead of respect, they saw a former President handed over and humiliated before the world,” Congressman Duterte said.

Congressman Duterte said March 11 would stand as a reminder of what he called “loyalty repaid with betrayal” and “service answered with persecution.”

He said that Filipinos would one day demand accountability for what he described as an injustice.

“But the Filipino people are not blind, and they are not forgetful. They remember who stood firm against criminals and drug syndicates when others were too afraid to act. They remember who fought for ordinary Filipinos when the elites mocked and opposed him. And they remember who turned their backs when power and political survival were at stake,” Congressman Duterte said.

As proceedings in the ICC continue, families of those who were killed in the drug war continue to seek for justice. Some of them even flew to The Netherlands to be present at the hearings on the confirmation of charges against Duterte.

In a report by GMA News Online, Paolina Massidda, principal counsel of the Office of the Public Counsel for Victims at the ICC said police admitted killing more than 6,200 people in drug raids nationwide since 2016, citing data from Human Rights Watch.

She also cited a 2020 report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which documented 8,663 deaths linked to the drug war.

However, she noted that Philippine human rights groups estimate the actual number of deaths could be two to three times higher than the United Nations figures.