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Activists wish more birthdays for Duterte so he can see trial’s end

Activists wish more birthdays for Duterte so he can see trial’s end

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PHOTO: Rodrigo Duterte FOR STORY: Activists wish more birthdays for Duterte so he can see trial’s end
Former President Rodrigo Duterte —File photo from Malacañang



MANILA, Philippines  — Activists wish former President Rodrigo Duterte a long life on his 80th birthday so he can see through the end of his trial for his crimes against humanity case filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to his drug war.

In a video message on Friday, March 28, lawyer and former lawmaker Neri Colmenares, part of the legal team for the drug war victims, said they in Bayan Muna want Duterte to have more birthdays to come while staying in prison.

Duterte was taken into custody by the ICC last March 11 after issuing an arrest order for him for the crimes against humanity charges in connection with his drug war.

More birthdays – ‘in prison’


“From all of us here at Bayan Muna to [former] President Rodrigo Duterte: Happy, happy birthday. May you have more birthdays to come, in prison,” Colmenares said.

Meanwhile, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) President Renato Reyes Jr. said that Duterte could count himself lucky for still being able to celebrate his birthday.

“Today is Rodrigo Duterte’s 80th birthday. We remember the thousands killed during his reign of terror who will no longer be able to celebrate their birthdays,” Reyes said in a separate statement.

“We remember the hundreds of political prisoners jailed during his regime like Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Romina Astudillo, who continue to celebrate birthdays in cramped jails all over the country,” he went on.

“On his 80th birthday, we wish that Mr. Duterte [will] live long enough to face his victims before the International Criminal Court. We wish him a long life so that he could see his trial through to the end, understand what due process entails, and see the outcome of a process that was denied many of his victims. May he live long enough to see the dawn of justice,” he added.

Continuing call for justice


Makabayan senatorial candidate and former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said that Duterte’s birthday should mark a continuing call for justice.

“Now that Duterte is under ICC custody, justice is in motion. But this is only one part of justice. True and complete justice entails holding accountable other perpetrators of this fake war on drugs and ensuring that such systemic violence will never happen again,” Casiño said.

“This is not a day for celebration, but a reminder for all of us that the fight for justice is not over.  If the Marcos administration is really serious in condemning this kind of violence, it should ensure that everyone involved in the rights abuses will be held accountable, and the Duterte regime’s legacy of not allowing accountability should end,” he added in Filipino.

Visiting ex-President Duterte in prison


Several of Duterte’s relatives had traveled to the Hague, the Netherlands, where the ICC is based, to celebrate his birthday.  On Wednesday, Duterte’s common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña and their daughter Kitty arrived in the Netherlands.

Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, has been in the Netherlands since the week that the former president was arrested.  Last March 20, the younger Duterte said it is part of the Office of the Vice President’s duty to bring back home Filipino citizens held by the ICC.

After coming home from Hong Kong last March 11, former President Duterte was stopped from leaving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 as local authorities assisted the International Criminal Police Organization in enforcing the ICC arrest order.

After questioning the arrest, Duterte eventually conceded, boarding a chartered plane from Villamor Air Base, which left Manila for the Netherlands a few minutes after 11:00 p.m..

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