Alyansa Tigil Mina hailed as a “victory for justice” the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte today at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for his crimes against humanity.

Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator, said “it may have taken several years for justice to be served, but we finally have that today. The tens of thousands who have been killed during Duterte’s presidency may not be brought back to life, but the arrest is a step towards the healing and the quest for justice of the victims’ families.”

Aside from the victims in Duterte’s war on drugs, Garganera also noted that environmental and human rights defenders were killed and assaulted during Duterte’s term. “For defending their lands and fighting for food, water and health, many were red-tagged and doomed to suffer.”

“Unlike Duterte who is now being accorded due process, thousands were denied of this right and were murdered with impunity,” said Garganera calling on the International Criminal Court and the Philippine government to prosecute and convict all culpable individuals involved under Duterte’s merciless tyranny.