Attorney Joel Butuyan, one of five Filipino lawyers accredited by the International Criminal Court (ICC), compared the arrest and extradition of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the 1986 People Power Revolution that led to the ouster of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“Nung unang nalaman ko na naaresto si former President Duterte, yung unang naramdaman ko, parang deja vu nung 1986 Edsa revolution,” Butuyan shared during the Meet the Press forum in Manila.
The lawyer described it as a “liberating feeling,” saying it felt like a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
Butuyan emphasized that the ICC trial is a step toward seeking justice for the thousands of victims of Duterte’s war on drugs.
Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2024, at the request of the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity. He is currently detained in the Netherlands.IMT
