Priest: Remember March 11 as the day when justice prevailed for EJK victims
Catholic priest Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, who is helping families who lost loved ones in the past administration’s war on drugs, holds a copy of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against former president Rodrigo Duterte. Villanueva led a Thanksgiving Mass at the Sacred Heart Parish in Quezon City, hours after Duterte was arrested on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
MANILA, Philippines — People who doubted there would be justice for extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims should remember Tuesday, March 11 – when former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested – as a day when justice prevailed, Catholic priest Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva said.
In an interview before a Thanksgiving mass held at the Sacred Heart Parish in Quezon City, Villanueva said that many people doubted if Duterte would ever be held accountable for his administration’s bloody war on drugs, given his wide influence.
According to Villanueva, the day Duterte was arrested and served a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity is a reminder that darkness will never win over goodness.
“Madami hong hindi naniwala, totoo ba ang ICC? Baka gawa-gawa din ‘yan. Totoo ba na may katarungan? Baka kathang-isip lang ‘yan. Totoo bang makukulong ‘yan si Duterte, sa dami ng impluwensiya, sa dami ng may takot sa kanya?” Villanueva said.
(Many doubt that the ICC exists. This might be made up. Is it true there is justice? This might be a figment of our imagination. Is it true that Duterte will be arrested, given his influence, given that many fear him?)
“March 11, 2025 po, itatak natin sa ating mga isip at puso, tagumpay ng katarungan, tagumpay na para sa ating lahat na paaalala, hindi magtatagumpay ang kadiliman,” he added.
(March 11, 2025. Let us bear in our hearts and minds that justice prevailed; it is a reminder for us that forces of darkness will never win.)
The Sacred Heart Parish is one of the several Catholic churches across Metro Manila that held thanksgiving masses after Duterte’s arrest at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia). Earlier in the day, another holy mass was held at the Ina ng Lupang Pangako Parish in Payatas, Quezon City.
Parish priest Bong Sarabia said that they were surprised with the developments, prompting parishioners to convene and call for a thanksgiving mass.
“This is a thanksgiving mass as it is a big surprise for us, that former president Duterte was arrested and the warrant of arrest was served. And that his case at the International Criminal Court would now start,” Sarabia said in a separate interview.
“I hope this would be a year of jubilee, freedom, and justice, especially for the EJK (extrajudicial killing) victims’ families who survived. We are here in Payatas because the congregation of our mission is here, and there is another foundation taking care of orphans and widows, around 35 families,” he added.
Payatas was one of the hotspots of Duterte’s drug war, as several alleged drug suspects were killed in the area. Present during the mass are alleged extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims’ relatives, who still claim that the suspects were killed even if they have already surrendered to police officers.
READ: CA to PNP: Submit final report on 2016 drug war killings
Villanueva said these meetings are gatherings of thanksgiving, because this small victory is a reminder that goodness will emerge.
“These are gatherings of thanksgiving, gratitude for this small victory that we experience now, victory in the struggle between darkness and light, victory of the goodness that emanates from God, that’s why we are here in church. Before anything else, we thank God,” he said.
Duterte was held earlier at the Naia Terminal 3 after the Philippine National Police (PNP) assisted in implementing the International Criminal Police Organization red notice for the ICC arrest order. This is for the crimes against humanity of mass murder charges filed against the ex-leader.
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Several official and independent investigations of the drug war have shown that there were many instances where innocent individuals were dragged into the anti-drug operations. In August 2017, 17-year-old Kian delos Santos was summarily executed in Caloocan City even if he was not the original target of the operation.
The three police officers involved in the killing of delos Santos were convicted of murder.
READ: 3 policemen guilty of killing Kian delos Santos — court
In August 2024, the House of Representatives’ quad committee started an extensive probe into the drug war and other issues. The four panels eventually recommended the filing of crimes against humanity complaints against Duterte and his key allies for allegedly committing EJKs in the administration’s anti-drug campaign.
In one of the hearings, it was revealed by former police colonel Royina Garma that Duterte called him in May 2016 about setting up a rewards system for police officers who would kill drug suspects.
READ: Garma bares monetary reward range under ‘Davao drug war template’
Over the weekend, there were rumors already that the ICC will soon issue an an arrest order for Duterte. During this time, the former president, his family and key allies, flew to Hong Kong to meet overseas Filipino workers.
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In Hong Kong, the elder Duterte addressed talks on the arrest order, saying that his actions during the war on illegal drugs were for the Philippines’ benefit.
