The arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday earned mixed reactions from Filipino netizens.

For one netizen, Duterte's arrest "marks a crucial step towards justice for the countless victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs)" during his presidency.

"We remember the lives lost and the families forever changed by the brutal war on drugs. May the wheels of justice turn swiftly and may those responsible for these heinous crimes be held accountable," he wrote.

"Let us continue to demand truth, justice, and human rights for all, and may this development bring us closer to a future where such atrocities never happen again," he continued.

One netizen, meanwhile, said he believaes the arrest "isn't just about him," but about "the thousands of lives lost, the families torn apart, and the culture of impunity he built."

"For every innocent life taken, for every victim silenced, today is a step closer to justice. Walang exempted sa batas--hindi lang ang mahihirap, pati ang mga nasa kapangyarihan! (No one is exempt to the law--not the poor, not even those who hold power!)."

Human Rights Watch (HRW) estimates that since Duterte took office in June 2016, his "war on drugs" has led to the deaths of over 12,000 Filipinos, mostly from the urban poor. At least 2,555 of these killings have been attributed to the Philippine National Police.

Meanwhile, one of Duterte's supporters called on their fellow supporters to "pray for Tatay Digong" as some expressed concerns for the health of the 79-year-old.

While others have been calling fellow Duterte supporters to troop to the streets to protest his arrest.

"People Power is calling," one netizen wrote.

Duterte, upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 from Hong Kong, was arrested by INTERPOL operatives acting on the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC started investigating drug killings under Duterte from 1 November 2011, when he was still mayor of Davao City, to 16 March 2019, as possible crimes against humanity.

The former chief executive in 2019 withdrew the country from the Rome Statute in a move that was aimed at escaping accountability, according to human rights activists.

The Duterte administration moved to suspend the global court's investigation in late 2021, arguing that the ICC didn't have jurisdiction over the Philippines.

In 2023, appeals judges at the ICC ruled that the investigation could resume and rejected the Duterte administration's objections.