For years, human rights defenders doubted whether Rodrigo Duterte would ever be held accountable for the thousands of deaths linked to his brutal war on drugs —widely perceived to have disproportionately targeted poor communities while failing to make a significant dent in the nation’s drug problem. The election of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom Duterte supported, seemed to extinguish any remaining hope for justice.

However, events took a dramatic turn, and the unimaginable happened on March 11, 2025: Duterte was arrested, extradited, and is now in jail at The Hague, Netherlands, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In another remarkable development, a February survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed that a majority—51%—of Filipinos believe Duterte should be held accountable for the extrajudicial killings linked to his war on drugs. This shift in public sentiment may have influenced Malacañang’s decision to proceed with his arrest following the issuance of an ICC warrant.

The survey results dismantle the long-standing perception that Duterte continues to enjoy broad public support. In the Visayas—once considered a Duterte stronghold—62% of respondents expressed the belief that he should be held accountable. Even in Mindanao, Duterte’s home region, 47% shared this view.

These numbers suggest that more Filipinos are beginning to see through the propaganda that dominated his administration and persisted even after he left office.

At the Tricom hearing in the House of Representatives, members of Duterte’s social media team were questioned over their claims that the drug war killings were a hoax and that mass police resignations followed his arrest. They admitted their posts were based on “opinions” and “impressions” without concrete evidence and ultimately apologized to House lawmakers.

The years of efforts by victims’ families, journalists, lawyers, lawmakers, and human rights defenders have not been in vain. There is hope after all.

The recent noise from Duterte’s supporters, including street rallies calling for his release, appears to be less about him and more about the upcoming May elections. His allies likely understand that the ICC will not be swayed by public demonstrations; instead, these protests seem to be a political strategy aimed at garnering sympathy and boosting their candidates’ chances at the polls.

But just as the falsehoods of the past nine years have been exposed, any remaining attempts to distort the truth and manipulate public perception will also crumble. The growing demand for justice marks a turning point—one that Duterte and his allies can no longer ignore. The path to accountability has begun, and this time, there may be no escape.

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