On Black Saturday, group says Duterte arrest ‘only the beginning’

The Children’s Rehabilitation Center marked the Holy Week through an exhibit entitled “Sila Kian At Iba Pa,” where the Stations of the Cross memorialized victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs), at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman on Saturday, April 19, 2025.  (Photo from Children’s Rehabilitation Center)

The group marked the Holy Week at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman through an exhibit entitled “Sila Kian At Iba Pa: Pasyon Patungong Hustisya,” where the Stations of the Cross memorialized EJK victims.

“The arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity marks a turning point. But it is only the beginning,” the CRC said in a statement on Black Saturday.

“Justice must not stop at symbolism, it must materialize in policy reform, prosecution of all perpetrators, and tangible support for the victims and their families,” the group added.

Photo courtesy of Children’s Rehabilitation Center

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The CRC estimated that at least 150 children were among the 30,000 people killed in Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Duterte was arrested and brought to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands last March to face allegations of crimes against humanity.

READ: ICC sets key dates ahead of Duterte’s September hearing

“We call on the current administration to immediately end drug war policies that continue to endanger the lives and dignity of the poor, especially children,” the CRC said.

“We also demand a just response to past and ongoing violations: truth-telling, reparations, and systemic change,” the group added.