Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested upon arrival at Manila’s airport following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity. The 79-year-old, who led a controversial anti-drug campaign during his presidency from 2016 to 2022, was returning from Hong Kong when he was taken into police custody.
Duterte’s brutal “war on drugs” led to thousands of extrajudicial killings, primarily targeting poor urban communities. While police reports state that over 6,000 suspects were killed, human rights groups argue the number is significantly higher. The ICC’s investigation covers alleged abuses committed from November 2011 when Duterte was mayor of Davao until March 2019, just before the Philippines withdrew from the ICC.
Upon his arrest, Duterte questioned the legal basis of the warrant, asking, “What crime [have] I committed?” His former spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, condemned the arrest as “unlawful,” citing the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2019. However, the ICC maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed before that withdrawal.
For activists and human rights organizations, Duterte’s arrest represents a major step toward accountability. The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) called the moment “historic,” with Chairperson Peter Murphy stating, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but today, it has bent towards justice. Duterte’s arrest is the beginning of accountability for the mass killings that defined his brutal rule.”
Duterte had been in Hong Kong campaigning for the May 12 mid-term elections, intending to run for mayor of Davao. Video footage of his arrival showed him using a cane, and authorities assured the public that he was in good health under government medical supervision.
Despite facing international scrutiny, Duterte remains popular in the Philippines, especially in Mindanao. His daughter, Sara Duterte, currently serves as vice president and is considered a strong contender for the 2028 presidential election.
The arrest comes amid strained relations between the Duterte family and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. While Marcos initially resisted ICC intervention, recent political rifts suggest a shift in his stance. Whether Duterte will face trial in The Hague remains uncertain, but his detention marks a turning point in the quest for justice.
