In the latest episode of As the Philippines Turns, the nation’s long-running political drama has taken a gripping new turn. According to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by Stratbase Consultancy, 51% of Filipinos believe former President Rodrigo Duterte should be held accountable for the drug-related killings during his administration’s notorious war on drugs. The survey, conducted from February 15 to 19, 2025, involved face-to-face interviews with 1,800 registered voters across the country, making it a significant gauge of public sentiment.
The numbers tell a compelling story. While 51% of respondents demand accountability, 25% disagree, 14% remain undecided, and 10% claim they lack enough knowledge to form an opinion. What is even more striking is the regional breakdown: The Visayas leads with 62% in favor of holding Duterte accountable, followed by Northern Luzon at 60%, Balance Luzon at 49%, Central Luzon at 48%, Mindanao at 47%, the National Capital Region at 45%, and Southern Luzon at 44%. These figures dismantle the myth of unwavering nationwide support for Duterte and instead reveal a population increasingly aware that justice must be served, no matter how powerful the accused.
The survey results were released just before Duterte’s arrest on March 11 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon his return from Hong Kong. The arrest was executed in response to a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating allegations of crimes against humanity in connection with the thousands of extrajudicial killings linked to his drug war. Once an untouchable political titan, Duterte now finds himself at the center of a global legal battle, a far cry from the defiant strongman image he cultivated during his presidency.
This turn of events raises an important question: Are we witnessing a pivotal moment in Philippine history where accountability is no longer reserved for the powerless but extends to those who once wielded the highest authority?
For years, critics and human rights advocates have decried the violent tactics of Duterte’s war on drugs, pointing to thousands of lives lost, families shattered, and a justice system that often looked the other way. Meanwhile, his supporters have justified the bloodshed as a necessary evil to rid the country of its drug problem. But this survey suggests a growing shift in perspective. More and more Filipinos seem to recognize that justice cannot be sacrificed on the altar of political convenience.
This is not just about Duterte. It’s about what kind of country we want to be. A nation that allows its leaders to act with impunity, or one that upholds the rule of law and ensures no one—no matter how powerful—is above it?
The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but they do turn. And as the former president faces his reckoning, one thing is clear: the people are watching, and history is taking notes.
