Philippine police have arrested former president Rodrigo Duterte at Manila airport. This happened right after he returned from Hong Kong. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for him, accusing him of crimes against humanity linked to his controversial “war on drugs.”
Duterte served as president from 2016 to 2022. His campaign against drugs resulted in the deaths of thousands, with violent tactics drawing widespread criticism. At 79, Duterte has previously expressed he was ready for imprisonment if it came to that.
The arrest has been hailed as a “historic moment” by the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines. Chairperson Peter Murphy commented that it marks the start of accountability for the mass killings that occurred during Duterte’s presidency. However, Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s former spokesperson, condemned the arrest, claiming it is illegal since the Philippines withdrew from the ICC. The ICC insists it still has jurisdiction for crimes committed before that withdrawal.
Duterte was in Hong Kong to campaign for his candidates in the upcoming mid-term elections. Video footage shows him using a cane as he walked out of the airport. Authorities claim he is in stable health and is receiving medical attention.
The “war on drugs” was a central campaign promise for Duterte. He portrayed himself as a tough leader determined to tackle crime. His statements incited police forces to take lethal actions against drug suspects. Official counts suggest over 6,000 individuals were killed during these operations, but human rights advocates argue the true number is higher.
Duterte has denied any wrongdoing. Investigations into his presidency began when the ICC started examining the situation in 2016. It expanded to include alleged human rights abuses from when Duterte was mayor of Davao City in 2011 until 2019, just before the Philippines left the ICC.
Much of Duterte’s appeal lay in his anti-establishment rhetoric, making him popular among many Filipinos. His daughter, Sara Duterte, is now the vice president and is seen as a potential presidential contender for 2028. Tensions grew recently between the Duterte family and current President Ferdinand Marcos, especially as their alliance shifted after the 2022 elections.
Initially, Marcos was reluctant to cooperate with the ICC, but as the relationship with the Duterte family soured, he indicated a willingness to engage with the court. Whether he will extradite Duterte for trial in The Hague remains uncertain.
