Duterte’s arrest upholds God’s gift of human dignity – religious group

Former President Rodrigo Duterte (SCREEN GRAB FROM ICC)

MANILA, Philippines — A group of church leaders on Tuesday said that the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity upholds “God’s gift to human dignity.”

The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) said that they stand in solidarity with the families of the victims of Duterte’s drug war and that they affirm the sanctity of human life through human rights.

“This marks progress towards accountability, upholding of human rights and God’s gift of human dignity. The arrest is a signal to ending the culture of impunity prevalent in the country,” PEPP said in a statement. 

The group also pointed out the repeated calls of human rights advocates for the former president to address the underlying issues that drive many people towards drug use and criminality. They said that there are roots of “unpeace.”

“Duterte could have looked into widespread poverty, unemployment, lack of access to social services, the inequitable distribution of resources, corruption, and bad governance,” PEPP noted. 

PEPP added that “[h]is refusal to heed these calls has now led to his reckoning, as he is now facing the bars of justice for the lives his drug war took, lives he was sworn to protect.”

The group called for prayers and demonstrate the Lordship of Jesus Christ on one’s actions.

“Let us pray and participate in ensuring that God’s justice and righteousness will prevail in the verdict of Duterte’s upcoming trial, revealing how the Lord of all despises evilness, especially the mistreatment of widows and orphans (Exod. 22: 22-25),” the group concluded. 

Duterte is the subject of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity allegedly committed concerning the war on drugs during his administration. 

Based on government data, the war on drugs claimed around 6,000 lives. However, data from human rights watchdogs said that the real numbers reached more than 20,000. 

Duterte, who has been under the custody of ICC, appeared before the ICC Pre-Chamber Trial I last Friday (Manila time) for the first time where the judges verified his identity, informed him of the charges filed against him, and enumerated his rights. 

His hearing on confirmation of charges is set on September 23, 2025.