Manila, March 11 -- Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday welcomed the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against former President Rodrigo Duterte, calling it a long-awaited moment for the families of thousands killed during his administration's anti-illegal drugs campaign.

"Dumating na ang araw na hinihintay ng mga pamilya ng libo-libong Pilipino na napatay sa madugong 'tokhang' ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte (The day that families of thousands of Filipinos who were killed in the bloody 'tokhang' of former president Rodrigo Duterte have been waiting for has arrived)," Hontiveros said in a statement.

Tokhang, or Oplan Tokhang (Operational Plan Tuktok Hangyo), is the Duterte ad...