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BACOLOD CITY — Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez has called on fellow mayors in Negros Occidental to "remain engaged, but also focused on the bigger picture" in the face of hot political issues hounding the nation.
"Let us channel our energies into meaningful dialogue and collective action, ensuring that our province continues to move forward," Benitez told the members of the Negros Association of Chief Executives (Negros ACE) in a statement to local media on Wednesday, March 12.
"As Mayors and Local Chief Executives of Negros Occidental, we recognize the weight of recent national events, including the legal proceedings involv-ing Former President Rodrigo Duterte," explained Benitez, who is also the president of the Negros Ace.
"Moments like these remind us of the fundamental principles that uphold our democracy: respect for human rights, due process, and the rule of law. We trust that our institutions will carry out their responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and full adherence to these principles," added Benitez.
Benitez is a first term mayor and a member of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., under which party he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Oct. 6, 2024.
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"Together, we reaffirm our commitment to democracy, human rights, peace, and the shared responsibility of building a stronger nation," stressed Beni-tez.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has yet to issue his reaction to the development in the national scene.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, meanwhile, said protests to air grievances will be allowed in the city provided proper procedures are fol-lowed.
"Everyone is given due course to clear one's name in our democratic world," said Benitez.
"Maybe the ICC is a forum for him (Duterte) to clear his name if he believes that the charges against him have no basis and are not true. He will be given his day in court," he added.
Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said "let the legal process take its course."
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza in northern Negros Occidental welcomed the arrest of the former president at the Ninoy Aquino International Air-port on his return from Hong Kong on Tuesday morning, March 11.
"The rule of law must prevail. Justice must be served. Let this be a turning point for our nation — a step toward healing, accountability, and real change," Alminaza said.
Caritas Philippines, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines social action arm, welcomes the latest developments concerning the investigation into Duterte's war on drugs, which resulted in thousands of deaths, many of which remain unresolved, said Alminaza, vice chairman of Caritas.
Caritas Philippines reiterates its long-standing call for justice for victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the Duterte anti-drug campaign, he said.
"These killings were not random, they were part of a policy that violated the fundamental right to life," Alminaza said.
"The families of the victims deserve truth, reparations, and justice. As a nation, we must ensure that such crimes never happen again," he added.
He said Caritas appeals not only to Duterte's supporters but also to his political allies, especially members of his party, to set aside personal loyalty and choose to stand with the rule of law.
"This moment calls for leaders to prioritize justice and the common good over partisan interests. Justice cannot be selective; it must apply to all, regard-less of power or position," said Alminaza.
Supporters of the former president joined a solidarity rally in front of the Bacolod City Government Center Wednesday evening, March 12.
The police estimated the crowd at the said rally to be around 650.
Duterte, 79, was served a warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over allegations of crimes against humanity in his bloody war against illegal drugs.
A chartered plane bringing Duterte to The Hague, the Netherlands, where he is expected to face the ICC Court, took off from the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday night.
