Justice For All: Duterte Must Be Held Accountable

Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP)

The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) welcomes the arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) charges of crimes against humanity—including murder, enforced disappearances, and persecution—under Article 7 of the Rome Statute. This marks a crucial step toward accountability for his grave violations of human rights, particularly against Indigenous Peoples who suffered under his regime.

Duterte’s tenure was marked by severe repression of indigenous communities, who faced relentless attacks for defending their lands and rights. Under his rule, indigenous leaders, activists, and community members were targeted through extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, illegal arrests, and militarization of ancestral territories. His government’s ‘whole-of-nation approach’ to counter-insurgency branded Indigenous Peoples as enemies of the state, leading to heightened persecution, forced displacements, and the dismantling of indigenous self-governance structures.

In the Cordillera, Mindanao, and other indigenous territories, Duterte’s administration facilitated destructive projects, including large-scale mining and energy developments, often in direct violation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Those who resisted were vilified, harassed, or assassinated. State forces operated with impunity, emboldened by Duterte’s rhetoric and policies, leaving indigenous communities in fear and mourning.

Duterte’s authoritarian rule also severely undermined democracy in the Philippines, silencing dissent, suppressing press freedom, and weaponizing the law to target activists and indigenous leaders. Duterte railroaded the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which has since been wildly used against Indigenous Peoples human rights defenders, designating them arbitrarily as terrorists – a tactic aimed at silencing legitimate dissent and stifling efforts to protect the rights of indigenous communities. The erosion of democratic institutions under his regime has had lasting effects, making it essential that his prosecution be thorough and transparent. Holding Duterte accountable is not just about justice for past crimes but also about restoring democratic norms, reinforcing the rule of law, and preventing future abuses of power. Transparency in the judicial process will demonstrate that no leader is above the law and will strengthen democratic resilience in the Philippines.

AIPP stands in solidarity with all Indigenous Peoples who were killed, persecuted, and displaced under Duterte’s regime. His arrest is a testament to the courage of indigenous communities, human rights defenders, and civil society organisations that have long demanded truth and justice.

However, justice will not be fully served unless Duterte’s accomplices—military and police officials, politicians, and business entities that profited from prosecution and dispossession of Indigenous Peoples—are also held accountable. Furthermore, the current Marcos Jr. administration must be scrutinized for continuing Duterte’s oppressive policies, including the weaponization of the Anti-Terrorism Law and the continued expansion of destructive projects on Indigenous lands.

AIPP demands full accountability for Duterte and all those complicit in the crimes committed against Indigenous Peoples and the people of the Philippines. We urge the Philippine government to ensure transparency and full cooperation with the ICC and call on the international community to remain vigilant in resisting state-sponsored repression.

Justice for Indigenous Peoples and all those who have suffered under Duterte’s rule!

2 April 2025

AIPP, Chaing Mai, Thailand

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