Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, was arrested on Tuesday at Manila’s main airport after returning from a trip to Hong Kong. His arrest came following a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing him of committing crimes against humanity during his controversial war on drugs.
The ICC’s warrant accuses Duterte of overseeing widespread and systematic extrajudicial killings during his tenure as both mayor of Davao City and as president. Human rights organizations have long condemned his anti-drug campaign, claiming that thousands of Filipinos, many of them poor and innocent civilians, were executed without trial. Activists estimate the death toll to be around 30,000. The killings were reportedly carried out by police officers, vigilantes, and hired gunmen, with little accountability.
The ICC’s three-judge panel, which reviewed evidence from the court’s prosecutor, concluded that Duterte was “individually responsible for the crime against humanity of murder.” The panel’s decision highlighted the scale of the killings and the role Duterte played in orchestrating them, both as mayor and president. The warrant, which was sealed and labeled “secret,” was obtained by The New York Times.
Duterte, who remains a powerful figure in Philippine politics despite stepping down as president in 2022, has maintained that his war on drugs was necessary to protect the nation from criminality. However, human rights groups argue that the campaign led to the summary execution of thousands, many of whom were reportedly unarmed and uninvolved in drug activities.
Following his arrest, Duterte was taken into custody at Villamor Air Base in Manila. Philippine officials indicated that arrangements were being made to transfer him to The Hague, where the ICC is based. However, Duterte’s legal team, led by his lawyer Salvador Panelo, quickly filed a petition for his release, arguing that the ICC lacked jurisdiction, given that the Philippines withdrew from the court during Duterte’s presidency.
The arrest marks a significant moment for human rights advocates in the Philippines, who have long sought justice for the victims of Duterte’s war on drugs. Cristina Jumola, whose three sons were killed during the campaign, expressed hope that this arrest would bring accountability after years of waiting for justice.
Duterte’s arrest also serves as a high-profile test for the ICC, which has recently pursued similar charges against other world leaders, including Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing.
