Filipino Catholics Divided Over Duterte's Fate

Accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his "war on drugs," which allegedly cost the lives of several thousand people between 2016 and 2022, the former head of state was extradited to The Hague, Netherlands, where he awaits trial. This decision has divided the country's Catholic majority.

Rodrigo Duterte's arrest marks a turning point in Philippine history. The 79-year-old former president was arrested as he stepped off the plane returning from Hong Kong, in full view of his supporters and a frenzied press. He was almost immediately flown to The Hague, where he will face charges related to his anti-drug policy.

According to Philippine government estimates, 6,000 people—many allegedly connected to drug trafficking—were shot dead by security forces.

The Church—which represents approximately 80% of the population—approved the arrest, illustrating the chaotic relationship between the Catholic hierarchy and the archipelago's former strongman. When he was a presidential candidate, Rodrigo Duterte publicly insulted Pope Francis in terms that decency forbids reporting here.

Once elected, he called God "stupid" and threatened to physically attack priests and bishops who dared to denounce his anti-drug campaign. These provocations have done little to contribute to the temperature rise between the Church and the Philippine state.

Nevertheless, in the wake of his arrest, the former head of state still enjoys great popularity among a predominantly Catholic population: an opinion poll conducted on March 13 by the Pulse Asia Institute revealed that Rodrigo Duterte, at nearly 80 years old, continues to be a point of reference for many Filipinos.

This has infuriated a section of the clergy, who are very involved in the social movement and hardly suspected of traditionalism. "He has divided the nation and families," says Fr. Flavie Villanueva reproaching him in The Tablet, calling on Catholics to exercise "discernment in their faith."

In a more measured tone, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a statement explaining that "the ICC's mandate is not simply a legal matter but rather an ethical call for justice and truth." 

This is a risky stance, as in the archipelago, what is seen as interference in matters that are primarily the concern of the Philippine state is not necessarily viewed favorably, with the potential to make a martyr of the former Philippine strongman.

Conversely, for his supporters, Duterte is a "savior" who dared to challenge elites and institutions and responded "pragmatically" to the drug scourge. "If you know drug addicts, kill them yourselves, because it would be too painful to ask their parents to do it," the former president declared in 2016. These outrageous remarks resonated with the working classes at the time.

In Davao, the former president's hometown and political stronghold, 20,000 of his supporters—according to the Turkish news agency Anadolu Ajansi (AA)—organized prayer vigils to demand his release. Among them are devout Catholics who see him as a leader full of flaws but who has restored order: "He made mistakes, but he also saved families from drugs," says Maria Santos, a 45-year-old mother who regularly attends Mass. "The Church should focus on forgiveness, not punishment," she explains.

Ironically, while now behind bars, more than 10,000 kilometers from Manila, Rodrigo Duterte remains more than ever a thorn in the side of the Church, rekindling divisions within Philippine Catholicism.