Former Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, has been arrested following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity. Duterte, 79, was apprehended in Manila on Tuesday after returning from a trip to Hong Kong, according to a statement from the presidential palace. The ICC has been investigating Duterte’s role in overseeing the deaths of around 4,000 people during anti-drug operations during his time in office between 2016 and 2022.
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The former leader’s administration has long been criticised by human rights groups, which claim the true death toll could be significantly higher. The Philippine National Police (PNP) carried out the arrest, with reports indicating Duterte was in good health following a medical examination. His arrest at Ninoy Aquino International Airport caused scenes of chaos, as his aides and lawyers protested, with some claiming his rights were violated.
Duterte’s legal team has dismissed the ICC’s jurisdiction, arguing that the warrant was illegitimate, as the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019. Despite this, the ICC maintains it retains jurisdiction for crimes committed prior to the country’s withdrawal. Duterte’s administration had attempted to block the ICC’s investigation, but the court ruled in 2023 that proceedings could continue, rejecting the former president’s objections.
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Duterte, who came to power in 2016 on a platform of eradicating illegal drugs and crime, enjoyed strong domestic support despite accusations of extrajudicial killings. The ICC’s involvement, however, has brought international attention to the crackdown, with President Ferdinand Marcos’s current administration stating that, while the Philippines would not rejoin the ICC, it would cooperate if Interpol was asked to arrest Duterte under a Red Notice.
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