Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested at Manila airport on Tuesday morning following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The warrant is part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged crimes committed during Duterte's controversial "war on drugs," which led to thousands of civilian deaths.
The ICC's investigation focuses on alleged crimes from November 2011 to June 2016 and extends to those committed during Duterte's presidency up until March 16, 2019. Duterte, who became president in 2016 after serving as mayor of Davao City, promised a ruthless crackdown on drugs, which resulted in an estimated 12,000 to 30,000 civilian deaths. The ICC also includes alleged crimes in Davao City, where extrajudicial killings were reported during his mayoral tenure.
Duterte was apprehended upon returning from Hong Kong. The Presidential Palace confirmed his arrest in a statement, noting that "early in the morning, Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC." This development follows the Philippines' withdrawal from the ICC on March 16, 2019, a move that has not deterred the court from pursuing its investigation.
In response to the arrest warrant speculation, Duterte previously stated, "If this is really my fate in life, that’s OK, I will accept it. There’s nothing we can do." His presidency was marked by a bloody campaign against drugs, during which he famously claimed that so many bodies would be dumped in Manila Bay that fish would grow fat from feeding on them.
The ICC's probe is part of a larger effort to address human rights violations associated with Duterte's administration. Despite the Philippines' withdrawal from the ICC, the court maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a member. Duterte, now 79, faces significant legal challenges as international scrutiny of his policies intensifies.