Bishop to DU30: Prove you're ready to face consequences of your actions

A Filipino bishop urged former president Rodrigo Duterte to prove that he is ready to face the consequences of his actions.

Caritas Philippines, the social arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, welcomed Duterte's arrest on Tuesday.

"For years, former President Duterte has claimed that he is ready to face the consequences of his actions. Now is the time for him to prove it," Caritas Philippines president Bishop Jose Bagaforo said in a statement.

"True justice is not about political allegiance or personal loyalty--it is about accountability, transparency, and the protection of human dignity. We urge Duterte to uphold his own words and submit himself to the legal process," Bagaforo added.

Duterte was arrested by Philippine authorities on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon his arrival from Hong Kong, where he attended a campaign rally.

Philippine authorities acted upon the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The arrest stemmed from the alleged "crimes against humanity" Duterte committed during his six-year term as president.

The plane carrying Duterte took off at 11:03 p.m. and is said to be en route to The Hague in the Netherlands.

Duterte, who will turn 80 this month, is accused by the ICC prosecutors of crimes against humanity over his anti-drugs crackdowns in which as many as 30,000 people were killed, according to human rights groups.

Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, vice president of Caritas Philippines, said Filipinos "must ensure that such crimes never happen again."

"These killings were not random; they were part of a policy that violated the fundamental right to life. The families of the victims deserve truth, reparations, and justice," Alminaza stressed.

The bishops also called on not only Duterte's supporters, but also to his political allies and the members of his party "to set aside personal loyalty and choose to stand with the rule of law."