Manila, Philippines: Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity over his deadly “war on drugs.”
The 79-year-old was taken into custody upon arriving at Manila airport from Hong Kong, where he had been campaigning for the upcoming May 12 mid-term elections and planning to run for mayor of Davao.
Duterte, who has never apologized for his controversial crackdown, questioned the basis of the warrant, asking, “What crime [have] I committed?” His former spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, called the arrest “unlawful,” citing the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2019. However, the ICC maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed before the country’s exit.
Activists and human rights groups hailed the arrest as a milestone for justice. Peter Murphy, chairperson of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP), said that, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but today, it has bent towards justice.”
Local television footage showed Duterte walking with a cane at the airport, and authorities confirmed he is in good health under government medical care. A video posted by his daughter, Veronica Duterte, showed him in custody at Manila’s Villamor Air Base, where he reiterated his innocence and denounced his detention.
During his 22-year tenure as mayor of Davao and later as president from 2016 to 2022, Duterte gained popularity for his tough-on-crime stance. He urged security forces to shoot suspected drug offenders, with over 6,000 reported killed, though rights groups believe the true number is much higher.
A UN investigation found most victims were young, poor men, with allegations that police conducted warrantless raids and coerced suspects into self-incriminating statements. Critics argued the campaign disproportionately targeted street-level offenders while failing to dismantle major drug syndicates.
Duterte has consistently denied allegations of human rights abuses, insisting he acted in the country’s best interest.
The ICC launched its probe in 2021, covering cases from November 2011—when Duterte was mayor of Davao—until March 2019, just before the Philippines withdrew from the court.
Often dubbed the “Donald Trump of the East,” Duterte cultivated a populist image, speaking in Cebuano rather than the more widely used Tagalog. His presidency marked a shift in Philippine foreign policy, favoring closer ties with China over its traditional alliance with the US. He also publicly admired Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte, is the Philippines’ current Vice President and a potential 2028 Presidential candidate. However, the once-strong alliance between the Duterte family and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has deteriorated in recent months.
Initially, Marcos resisted ICC involvement but later indicated a willingness to cooperate, leading to speculation about whether he would extradite Duterte for trial at The Hague.
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