Appeal Issued to Reject Philippines’ Duterte From Upcoming Elections

Human rights activists have called on Filipino voters to reject former President Rodrigo Duterte’s newest bid in next year’s midterm elections.

Duterte has registered to run for mayor in Davao, alongside televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.

He held positions of power in the Southern city for over two decades, before becoming President in 2016, where he served a further six years. A sometimes violent anti-drugs campaign characterized his time as leader of the country.

Most notably, he has been accused of sanctioning the extrajudicial killings of drug users and homeless children through the use of the “Davao Death Squad” a vigilante organization which human rights groups have estimated is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.

Criminal allegations suggest his crackdown led to the deaths, of mostly vulnerable citizens, and is now the subject of an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation for potential crimes against humanity.

The 79-year-old returned to Davao in 2022 to keep a “low-profile,” following a controversial presidency, which included an impeachment attempt.

Meanwhile, Quiboloy, a close ally of Duterte and his former spiritual adviser, is currently detained on charges of sexual abuse and alleged human trafficking in the Philippines.

The megachurch leader filed candidacy papers for a seat in the 24-member Senate through a lawyer Tuesday.

He is also on the FBI’s most-wanted list in the United States for similar allegations.

Both Duterte and Quiboloy have denied any wrongdoing.

In the Philippines, candidates with pending criminal charges are legally permitted to run for office unless convicted by a court and have exhausted all appeals.

Human Rights Watch said Duterte should not be allowed to escape accountability whether inside or outside of government office.

“The thousands of victims of his brutal regime both across the Philippines and in Davao, where he had been mayor for a long time, will continue to demand accountability,” said Caloy Conde, a campaigner for the organization.

He urged the public to reject Duterte’s candidacy, stating “He has too much blood on his hands.”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who is leading an investigation into the allegations against Quiboloy, criticized his decision to seek a Senate seat.

“For somebody who is facing so many cases, including human trafficking and child abuse, and even hid from law enforcers, you even have the gall of presenting yourself to the people as a candidate to be a lawmaker,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“Let us not elect lawbreakers as lawmakers.”

Cristina Palabay of the rights group Karapatan said her organization would stage public rallies to oppose Duterte, Quiboloy, and their allies.

She argued that they should not be allowed to use political office as a shield against legal scrutiny, “More and more of the Philippine electorate are aware of who and what they are,” Palabay said.

Duterte’s drug crackdown throughout his presidency alone officially left more than 6,000 dead.

He has consistently denied sanctioning extrajudicial killings, despite making public threats against suspects and directing police to shoot those who resist arrest.

Quiboloy, aged-74, has described himself as the “anointed son of God” and previously claimed to have stopped an earthquake through prayer.

He recently pleaded not guilty to child abuse and human trafficking charges in Philippine courts.

The U.S. government accused him of coercing women and underage girls into sex under threats of abuse or “eternal damnation” in a 2021 indictment.

Quiboloy’s camp has rejected the accusations, alleging that former followers fabricated their claims after being expelled from his religious organization, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press