Justice at Last: INTERPOL Issues Red Notice for Duterte’s Arrest

For years, victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and their families have waited for justice. Their voices, drowned out by fear and political maneuvering, are now amplified by a monumental development: INTERPOL has finally issued a Red Notice for the arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. This decisive action comes as the International Criminal Court (ICC) intensifies its efforts to hold Duterte accountable for the thousands of state-sanctioned killings committed under his bloody “war on drugs.”

This long-awaited moment marks a historic step towards justice—not only for the victims who perished in the streets of the Philippines but also for their grieving families who have fought tirelessly against impunity.

What is an INTERPOL Red Notice?

A Red Notice is INTERPOL’s highest international alert, issued upon request by a member country or an international tribunal like the ICC. It signals law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and detain a wanted individual pending extradition. In Duterte’s case, the Red Notice means that any country that recognizes the ICC’s jurisdiction can detain him and transfer him to The Hague for trial.

With this Red Notice in effect, Duterte can no longer hide behind political allies, evade international law, or travel freely without the risk of immediate arrest.

The Price of Duterte’s Drug War: A List of Victims

Duterte’s reign of terror was marked by rampant extrajudicial killings, most of which targeted the poor, falsely accused drug suspects, and innocent bystanders. According to human rights organizations, up to 30,000 people may have been killed under Duterte’s anti-drug campaign—executed by state forces with impunity.

Here are some of the most harrowing cases that underscore the brutality of Duterte’s war on drugs:

Children Murdered in Duterte’s Drug War

1. Kian Loyd delos Santos (17 years old) – Shot in the back while kneeling, unarmed, begging for his life. CCTV footage contradicted police claims that he fought back.
2. Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman (14 years old) – Found dead with 31 stab wounds, his face wrapped in tape. He was last seen with Carl Arnaiz.
3. Carl Arnaiz (19 years old) – A former honor student, falsely accused of robbery and shot by police while handcuffed.
4. Francisco “Paco” Rodriguez (15 years old) – Killed execution-style alongside his father, who was also targeted by police.

Mothers & Fathers Gunned Down Without Trial

5. Emerson Velasco (38 years old) – Abducted in broad daylight by masked gunmen; his body was later dumped in a canal.
6. Jerome Maquidato Jr. (47 years old) – A Grab driver shot dead by an unknown assailant, despite having no criminal record.
7. Jeffrey “Jepoy” Evangelista (21 years old) – Killed in a police operation after being accused without evidence of drug use.

Ordinary Filipinos Killed in Cold Blood

8. Alvin Parojinog (13 years old) – A member of a political family targeted in a deadly raid.
9. Michael Siaron (30 years old) – A pedicab driver framed as a drug pusher, shot in the head, and left dead in the street. His wife’s cries of agony became the symbol of Duterte’s ruthless war.
10. Benjamin Ramos (56 years old) – A human rights lawyer assisting the families of EJK victims, assassinated for his advocacy.

These are only a fraction of the thousands who perished. Many remain unidentified, buried in mass graves or dumped in unmarked tombs, their stories silenced by the state.

Why Duterte Must Be Held Accountable

Duterte’s war on drugs was never about justice—it was a campaign of mass murder, where innocent lives were reduced to mere statistics, and due process was abandoned in favor of street executions. He emboldened police and vigilantes to kill with impunity, offering protection and even financial rewards for those who carried out extrajudicial killings.

The ICC has been investigating Duterte for crimes against humanity, and the Red Notice issued by INTERPOL is a critical step toward ensuring that he faces the consequences of his actions.

Duterte’s enablers and defenders may claim he was “cleaning the streets,” but the reality is that:

• Drug use never significantly declined under his rule.
• Drug lords were untouched, while poor Filipinos were slaughtered.
• Corruption and abuses within law enforcement increased.

Justice cannot and should not be selective. The Red Notice represents a global recognition of Duterte’s crimes and a promise that the rule of law will prevail.

A Turning Point for the Philippines

For too long, EJK victims have been dismissed as collateral damage, their families silenced by fear. But today, justice is finally within reach.

The INTERPOL Red Notice means that Duterte can no longer escape accountability. It means that:

• Countries that are signatories to the ICC must act on the warrant.
• The Philippine National Police (PNP) must cooperate with international law enforcement or risk becoming complicit.
• Duterte’s allies will be forced to choose: stand with justice, or protect a criminal.

This moment is not just about Duterte—it is about the thousands of men, women, and children whose lives were brutally cut short. It is about proving that no one, not even a former president, is above the law.

The people of the Philippines and the global community must demand Duterte’s arrest and extradition to the ICC. Only then can the victims of his brutal regime finally rest in peace, knowing that justice has been served.

Justice Is Coming

The world is watching. The families of the slain are watching. And the ghosts of Duterte’s victims—young and old, innocent and forgotten—are waiting.

Rodrigo Duterte thought he could kill with impunity. Today, he is a fugitive wanted for crimes against humanity.

The time for justice is now.