75% of Filipinos Say No One Above the Law, Not Even Duterte — Survey

While Senator Imee Marcos questions the legality of Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest, majority of Filipinos say the former president should stand trial in the International Criminal Court in an April survey

By Pie Gonzaga 24 hours ago

rodrigo duterte giving speech april 2022 — Former President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his speech during the Philippine National Police Academy 43rd Commencement Exercises at the Campos Grandstand in Silang, Cavite on April 21, 2022. Photo by Arman Baylon/Presidential Communications Office Website

In a survey gauging Filipino voters’ feelings about former President Rodrigo Duterte’s impending trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC), 75 percent of respondents say no one is above the law, not even a former president.

The report released by research firm WR Numero on Friday, April 11, shows that 61.7 percent of respondents believe Duterte should face trial in the ICC for killings related to his administration’s war on drugs, but only 52.9 percent trust the ICC to give Duterte a fair investigation and trial. Moreover, 61.4 percent say the ICC trial is important in uncovering the truth about the drug war.

66.3 percent say the Philippine government should allow the ICC to try Duterte, while 61.1 percent believe that co-perpetrators should also stand in the ICC. 65.5 percent also say President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should investigate and penalize police officials who abused their authority in the war on drugs.

Among those named in the first ICC complaint filed by the late Attorney Jude Josue Sabio in 2017 are former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and incumbent Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, retired police chief Royina Garma, then-House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, former Sen. Richard Gordon, and Sen. Alan Cayetano.

bato dela rosa senate inquiry duterte arrest — Senator Bato dela Rosa, a key figure in Duterte’s war on drugs, at the Senate inquiry on the former president’s arrest, April 10. Photo from Senate of the Philippines Facebook

Sabio, who served as legal counsel to confessed Davao Death Squad hitman Edgar Matobato, withdrew the complaint in 2020.

In 2017, former Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes and former Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano filed a supplementary complaint naming more PNP officials.

WR Numero conducted its survey from March 31 to April 7 through face-to-face interviews with 1,894 registered voters in the Philippines. According to the research firm, it is the first survey to be conducted on Duterte’s case following his arrest on March 11.

The report comes after Sen. Imee Marcos initiated a Senate probe into Duterte’s arrest. In an April 3 hearing, re-electionists Marcos and dela Rosa stressed that the Philippine government was not required to cooperate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).