Manila: Former senator Leila De Lima expressed on Tuesday that the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte represents not only the end of impunity but also sparks a broader movement towards justice, transparency, and the restoration of human rights.

According to Philippines News Agency, De Lima released a statement following Duterte's arrest by Philippine National Police personnel at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The arrest was executed under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). De Lima referred to the arrest as the start of a necessary reckoning.

She highlighted the severe impacts of Duterte's abuse of power, noting that her own experience of nearly seven years of imprisonment on what she claims were fabricated charges was a result of her opposition to Duterte's drug war. De Lima emphasized that Duterte must now account for his actions, not only to her but to the victims, their families, and a global community that refuses to forget.

De Lima insisted that Duterte should face consequences not in the court of public opinion but according to the rule of law, underscoring that justice requires those in power to be held to the same standards as everyone else.