PAHRA stood with Active Vista and fellow human rights groups in a night of truth-telling and remembrance, featuring a screening of Aswang, the gripping documentary exposing Duterte’s bloody drug war. The event was followed by a candle lighting ceremony to honor the victims of extrajudicial killings and a livestream of Duterte’s ICC appearance, a historic moment in the fight against impunity.


“This is justice catching up with Duterte, but it cannot stop with him. Every accomplice must be held accountable,” said Egay Cabalitan, PAHRA Secretary-General. “We will not let history repeat itself. The human rights movement will remain relentless, and every administration including Marcos Jr.’s will be watched closely to ensure no leader dares to rule with the same brutality.”


Duterte’s war on drugs left over 30,000 dead, most of them from poor communities. His arrest was a crucial victory, but true justice means dismantling the system that allowed these crimes to happen.


“Duterte once thought he was untouchable. Now, he will answer for the blood on his hands,” Cabalitan added. “This is not just about one man. This is about a culture of impunity that must end, and we will not stop until every perpetrator is brought to justice.”


The fight continues. No one guilty of these atrocities should walk free.