The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) found it unbelievable that the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) granted the “Golden Pillar of Law Award” to former president Rodrigo Duterte who is facing crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) also expressed its deep concern.

According to the NUPL, awarding Duterte is a disgrace. It said that praising his supposed “outstanding” service to the legal profession and his promotion of justice, integrity, and the “rule of law,” as well as his alleged “immeasurable contribution” that serves as an “inspiration to the legal community,” added insult to injury.

The UPLM stated that honoring Duterte, who has a long record of violating due process, raises “serious questions about the standards promoted by the country’s national organization of lawyers.” It was unconvinced by the position of IBP-Davao that the recognition was “not an endorsement” of Duterte’s “political acts or personal ideology.” UPLM said Duterte’s standing as a lawyer cannot be separated from his grave human rights violations.

The lawyers agreed that the award given to Duterte severely undermines public trust in the legal profession, especially for the thousands of victims of the fake war on drugs.

“For them, Duterte’s award is deeply painful and may be perceived as a validation of the impunity they have suffered,” the UPLM said.