Can movie, television and multimedia stars who are victims of the past administration's "war on drugs" file formal complaints against former president Rodrigo Duterte?
In the wake of the arrest served allegedly by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to Digong recently on grounds of crimes against humanity which was bolstered by one of his state-sponsored policies, Operation Tokhang, many entertainment personalities who were arbitrarily arrested or the family of those mercilessly killed have been instigated to join the family victims' collective act on rallying behind the arrest or to separately bring the ex-president to court.
Sympathizers of the brutally murdered showbiz denizens, like actor Roel de Villa, entertainment writer and editor Art Tapalla, a resident of San Pedro City, called on showbiz people to bind together to praise the ICC's decision in arresting Duterte.
"Hindi natatapos ang problema sa pagkakaaresto kay Duterte. Simula pa lang 'yan. At mahabang proseso 'yan (The problem doesn't end with the arrest of Duterte. It is only the beginning. And it is a long process).
"Ang dapat na lutasin ng gobyerno ay kahirapan na siyang sanhi ng paglaganap ng droga. Kakulangan sa trabaho at walang katiyakan sa buhay ang mga ugat din ng droga at 'yan ang dapat munang solusyunan. Hindi 'yang pagpatay o pagdukot sa mga walang kaya na apektado ng droga (What the government should solve is poverty which is the source of widespread drug addiction and supply. Unemployment and uncertainties in life are also the basic roots of drug menace. They cannot be solved by Extra Judicial Killings (EJKs) or warrantless arrests of poor people plagued by drugs)," explained Art, a progressive movie reporter.
Tapalla suggested that actresses like Katherine Luna, Kat de Santos, Sabrina M., among others and actors like Julio Diaz and CJ Ramos can file cases of misrepresentation and illegal arrests.
"Puwedeng-puwede silang magdemanda at ngayon na ang panahon (They can file charges and this is the right time)," exclaimed Art.
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