Filipino Migrants In Utrecht Rally On Bonifacio Day, Hailing ICC Ruling

UTRECHT, Netherlands — Filipino migrant organisations and Dutch solidarity allies took to the streets of Utrecht on Sunday, 30 November 2025, to commemorate Bonifacio Day with a mass action demanding justice, accountability, and an end to corruption in the Philippines. The protest was held in front of the Utrecht Central Station and formed part of a global wave of demonstrations known as the 'Trillion Peso March', which was also staged across the Philippines on the same day.

A central focus of the rally was the recent ruling by the International Criminal Court (ICC). On 28 November 2025, the ICC Appeals Chamber confirmed the decision to reject the appeal for the interim release of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained in The Hague facing charges of crimes against humanity.

The protesters in Utrecht welcomed the decision, viewing it as a significant victory for the Filipino people seeking accountability. Icai Enriquez, convenor of the Duterte Panagutin Network, stated that the ICC's ruling was a long time coming. The groups also stressed that this fight for justice is not limited to a single case but is connected to broader systemic issues.

The demonstration served to express indignation over the massive corruption scandals currently gripping the Philippines, particularly the alleged anomalies in government flood control and infrastructure projects, which have reportedly caused billions of pesos to be lost. The migrant groups, which included Migrante Netherlands, the Duterte Panagutin Network, and Pinay in Holland-GABRIELA, stressed that the theft of public funds is an issue that crosses political lines and directly impacts the lives of ordinary Filipinos, including overseas workers whose remittances are effectively being stolen.

Protesters chanted, "Lahat ng sangkot, dapat managot" (Everyone involved should be accountable), highlighting the demand for all individuals linked to corruption to face justice. They argued that the money lost to corruption could have been used for essential services like healthcare, education, and proper flood mitigation, which is critical as the Philippines experiences back-to-back typhoons.

The protest also featured banners and speeches emphasising that the path to a better Philippines lies beyond the two dominant political families. Some Dutch nationals supporting the rally carried banners that read, "Marcos at Duterte, walang pinagkaiba" (President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte are the same).

Participants affirmed that the people are not limited to a choice between the Marcos and Duterte camps, but can and must fight for a genuine political alternative rooted in people’s power and systemic change. The organisers committed to continuing their demonstrations and information drives to expand support among the overseas Filipino community, calling on one another to "fight for justice, truth, and accountability."

Photos by: Nwel Saturay via Migrante Netherlands