Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Arrested on ICC Warrant
Rodrigo Duterte, former President of the Philippines, was arrested on Tuesday (March 11) morning while returning to Manila from a trip to Hong Kong, the Presidential Communications Office has confirmed.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for Duterte’s arrest for suspected crimes against humanity relating to his signature war on drugs, which served as a major pillar of his successful bid for the presidency in 2016.
The war on drugs was a controversial and violent anti-narcotics campaign that aimed to eradicate illegal drug use and trafficking. Upon taking office, Duterte encouraged police and vigilantes alike to carry out aggressive crackdowns, leading to the deaths of thousands of suspected drug users and dealers, often in extrajudicial killings.
The campaign drew the ire of human rights groups, the United Nations, and the ICC. They accused Duterte of crimes against humanity, citing reports of police abuses, lack of due process, and the targeting of poor communities. Despite domestic and international condemnation, Duterte has remained defiant, maintaining that his campaign saved lives by reducing crime, though critics argue it undermined the rule of law and institutionalized violence.
Speaking in Hong Kong shortly before returning to the Philippines, Duterte expressed his lack of concern surrounding an impending warrant from the ICC. "If this is truly my fate in life, it's okay, I will accept it,” he said. “They can arrest me, imprison me.”
Appearing with Duterte in Hong Kong was his daughter, Sara, who is currently serving as vice president and will face trial in the country’s Senate after being impeached by the House of Representatives in February. Sara Duterte campaigned in 2022 with Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who succeeded her father as president, though the alliance between the two families has since fractured severely.
Regarding the arrest, Duterte’s legal counsel has called it unlawful and claimed that police did not allow any of Duterte’s lawyers to be present when the warrant was served.
This story will be updated as more details become available.