Statement of KAISA KA on the arrest of ex-Pres. Duterte

The detention of Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a step toward justice, but it is not enough. Women bore the brunt of his rule—mothers who lost sons and daughters to the bloody war on drugs, widows left without justice, women activists harassed and silenced, and entire communities living in fear under his militarized and patriarchal governance. Duterte’s misogyny was not just words—it was a policy. It was the normalization of rape jokes, the encouragement of sexual violence by the police and military, and the systematic erasure of women’s voices from decision-making spaces.

But let us be clear: Duterte’s detention is not the end of our fight. Justice must go beyond the incarceration of one man. The same corrupt and oppressive system that allowed him to thrive remains intact. The drug war widows still have no reparations. Women human rights defenders continue to be red-tagged and threatened. Social services that should uplift the poor remain underfunded while militarization still dominates governance.

KAISA KA stands firm: justice must be gender-sensitive, people-centered, and transformative. We demand:

• Full accountability for Duterte’s enablers – Not just those who pulled the trigger, but those who funded, justified, and benefited from his violent policies.
• Justice and reparations for the widows and orphans of the drug war – The state must acknowledge its crimes and support those left behind.
• An end to red-tagging and violence against women activists – Feminist organizers, indigenous leaders, and community defenders must be protected, not persecuted.
• A government that prioritizes people over power – Instead of bloated military budgets and political dynasties, we need healthcare, education, and livelihood programs that empower women and communities.

To every woman who has cried for justice, to every family still seeking accountability, to every Filipino who refuses to forget: this is our moment to rise. Tama na ang pananakot. Panagutin ang may sala. Palayain ang bayan!