Philippines ex-President Duterte arrested over crimes against humanity

 

Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, was arrested at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday following an order from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The arrest stems from an ongoing investigation into crimes against humanity allegedly committed during his administration’s war on drugs, Al Jazeera reports.

Duterte, 79, was taken into custody upon his return from Hong Kong. According to The Associated Press, the Philippines government acted on the ICC’s request, received through Interpol.

 

The investigation focuses on what the ICC describes as “massive killings” under Duterte’s anti-drug crackdown.

A statement from the government confirmed the arrest: “Upon his arrival, the prosecutor general served the ICC notification for an arrest warrant to the former president for the crimes against humanity. He’s now in the custody of authorities.”

 

The charges relate to Duterte’s controversial anti-drugs campaign, which ran from 2016 to 2022. According to police records, over 7,000 people were killed in operations, while human rights groups claim the real figure exceeds 30,000.

 

Many victims, including children, were reportedly killed without due process.

Duterte questioned the legality of his detention. “What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?” he asked in a video posted by his daughter, Veronica Duterte. “Explain to me now the legal basis for my being here as apparently I was brought here not of my own volition.”

During a speech in Hong Kong on Saturday, Duterte defended his actions, saying he “did everything … for the Filipino people.”

 

 

He had previously encouraged police officers to “shoot and kill” suspected drug offenders, asserting that his war on drugs was necessary to protect the nation.

Human Rights Watch welcomed Duterte’s arrest, calling it “a critical step for accountability in the Philippines.”

 

Bryony Lau, HRW’s deputy Asia director, said, “His arrest could bring victims and their families closer to justice and sends the clear message that no one is above the law. The Marcos government should swiftly surrender him to the ICC.”

 

The ICC began examining Duterte’s drug war in 2018, despite Manila’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019. The probe also covers alleged crimes from Duterte’s tenure as mayor of Davao, where he ruled for two decades.

 

Reports suggest extrajudicial killings were common during his time in office.

Duterte had long opposed the ICC’s authority.

 

He previously threatened to arrest former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda if she entered the Philippines for an investigation. Bensouda retired in 2021, but her successor, Karim Khan, has continued the probe.

 

The arrest order is considered a significant victory for human rights activists and families of drug war victims.

 

While Duterte’s allies argue that the Philippines is no longer under ICC jurisdiction, legal experts say crimes committed before the country’s withdrawal can still be prosecuted.