Filipino human rights defenders hold rally at Philippines Embassy in Canada as Duterte faces crimes against humanity charges

Published by Brent Patterson on March 15, 2025March 15, 2025

Photo: Ikulong translates as Imprison.

Filipino human rights groups held an emergency rally outside the Embassy of the Philippines in Canada in downtown Ottawa this evening.

ICC arrest warrant

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has explained: “On 10 February 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC applied for an arrest warrant against Mr Duterte for the crimes against humanity of murder, torture and rape.”

“The Chamber assessed the material submitted by the Prosecution and found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Duterte is individually responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder, allegedly committed in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019.”

The ICC continues: “The warrant of arrest against Mr Duterte was issued by the Chamber as ‘Secret’ on 7 March 2025 and reclassified as ‘Public’ on 11 March 2025. On 12 March 2025, Mr Duterte was surrendered to the International Criminal Court after being arrested by the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines in accordance with the warrant of arrest. He is currently in ICC custody.”

A police presence was visible during the rally.

30,000 killed in the so-called “War on Drugs”

The Guardian has reported: “Since [Duterte’s] election [in 2016], between 12,000 and 30,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed in connection with anti-drugs operations, according to data cited by the ICC.”

That article adds: “The ICC’s investigation into the anti-drugs killings covers alleged crimes committed from November 2011 to June 2016, including extrajudicial killings in Davao City [when Duterte was the mayor], as well as across the country during his presidency up until 16 March 2019, when the Philippines withdrew from the court.”

Human rights defenders killed

In February 2019, the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) noted: “The number of land and environmental defenders, as well as journalists, killed in the Philippines has increased dramatically during Duterte’s presidency. From July 2016 to November 2018, at least 76 land and environmental rights defenders and 12 journalists were killed in connection with their work. Labour rights activists have also been the target of attacks and at least eight of them have been killed on Duterte’s watch.”

Human rights violations continue

Duterte’s presidency ended on June 30, 2022.

The Amnesty International Annual Report 2023-2024 notes: “Unlawful killings under the ‘war on drugs’ continued and impunity for thousands of past killings remained entrenched. …The practice of ‘red-tagging’ human rights defenders and others persisted, and counterterrorism legislation was increasingly used against humanitarian workers. Freedom of expression continued to be restricted. Enforced disappearances of environmental activists and Indigenous persons were reported.”

Global Witness has also documented that 17 land and environmental defenders were killed in the Philippines in 2023 and that 298 were killed between 2012 to 2023.

During the rally an official car entered the Embassy.

The export of Canadian “military goods” to the Philippines

During Duterte’s presidency, Canada exported about $7 million in military goods to the Philippines ($6,050,640.67 in 2016, $3,219.78 in 2017, $175,497.00 in 2018, $458.00 in 2019, $18,100.00 in 2020, $399.95 in 2021, and $385,000.00 in 2022).

Despite these ongoing human rights violations in the Philippines, Canada exported $514,604.48 of military goods to the Philippines in 2023. The figures for 2024 will be made public by Global Affairs Canada around the time of the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa this coming May 28-29.

Further reading: ICC arrest of Duterte raises questions about CANSEC and the export of “military goods” to the Philippines (March 12, 2025).

Image from Shut Down CANSEC on Instagram.

Pretrial hearing on September 23

Deutsche Welle further notes: “The court has scheduled a pretrial hearing for September 23rd, when they will determine if there is enough evidence to continue with a full trial. If convicted, he would face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.”

We continue to follow this.