Ex Philippine President Arrested Over Deadly Drug War

Philippine police have arrested former president Rodrigo Duterte after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity over his deadly “war on drugs”.

The 79-year-old was taken into police custody shortly after arriving at Manila airport from Hong Kong on Tuesday. According to local media reports, he is currently on a private jet at the airport. Earlier, his daughter claimed he was being “forcibly” sent to The Hague in the Netherlands, where the International Criminal Court (ICC) is based.

The presidential palace is expected to hold a press conference soon.

Duterte has never apologized for his aggressive anti-drug campaign, which resulted in thousands of deaths during his presidency from 2016 to 2022. Before that, he was the mayor of Davao City, where he built a reputation for tough crime policies.

Following his arrest, Duterte questioned the legal basis for the warrant. In a video posted by his daughter, Veronica Duterte, he asked, “What crime have I committed?” Later, in another video, he said, “If I committed a crime, prosecute me in Philippine courts with Filipino judges. I will accept jail time in my own country.”

In response to his arrest, his legal team submitted a petition to the Supreme Court, urging the authorities not to comply with the ICC’s request. The petition called for the suspension of all cooperation with the ICC while the case is under review. Duterte also argued that the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2019 ended the court’s jurisdiction over the country.

However, the ICC insists it still has authority over crimes committed before the Philippines’ withdrawal.

After his arrest, Duterte was taken to Villamor Air Base, inside the airport compound. Supporters gathered at the gates, protesting the arrest, while security forces deployed more than 370 officers to maintain order at key locations.

While Duterte’s supporters criticized his detention, human rights activists hailed it as a “historic moment” for the victims of his war on drugs. Peter Murphy, chairman of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP), stated, “Justice has begun. Duterte’s arrest is the first step in holding him accountable for the mass killings under his rule.”

Duterte had been in Hong Kong campaigning for the upcoming midterm elections on May 12. He planned to run again for mayor of Davao. Local TV footage showed him walking out of the airport using a cane. Authorities assured the public that he is in good health and under medical care.

Before leaving Hong Kong, Duterte addressed a crowd of Filipino expatriates, saying, “What have I done wrong? Everything I did was for peace and the well-being of the Filipino people.”

Political analyst Richard Heydarian called Duterte’s arrest the start of “a new chapter in Philippine history.” He stated, “This is about upholding the rule of law and human rights.”

Authorities moved quickly to arrest Duterte at the airport rather than allowing the case to drag through local courts. Heydarian noted that this was to prevent political unrest. “Duterte’s supporters wanted to delay the case with protests and legal tactics, hoping the arrest warrant would lose momentum,” he said.

Duterte’s legal troubles coincide with political tensions between his camp and the current administration. His family had formed an alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 2022 elections. However, their relationship has since soured. Marcos initially refused to cooperate with the ICC investigation but later changed his position as ties with the Duterte family weakened.

As mayor of Davao for 22 years, Duterte promoted a tough-on-crime image. His anti-drug campaign as president led to over 6,000 deaths, though rights groups claim the real number is much higher. A United Nations report found that most victims were young, poor men. Police often conducted raids without search or arrest warrants, forcing suspects to confess or face deadly consequences.

Critics argue that the campaign targeted small-time drug dealers while failing to capture powerful drug lords. Many families claim their loved ones were innocent victims.

Investigations suggested that a secret “death squad” carried out extrajudicial killings, but Duterte has denied any wrongdoing. He previously told lawmakers, “I will never apologize for my actions. I did what was necessary for my country.”

The ICC began looking into these abuses in 2016 and officially launched its investigation in 2021. The case covers alleged crimes from November 2011—when Duterte was still Davao’s mayor—until March 2019, just before the Philippines withdrew from the ICC.

Since taking office, President Marcos has reduced Duterte’s violent anti-drug campaign, opting for a less aggressive approach. However, reports indicate that drug-related killings continue under his administration.

Despite his legal troubles, Duterte remains popular, especially in Mindanao, his home region. Many in the south feel neglected by leaders in Manila. He frequently speaks Cebuano, the regional language, instead of Tagalog, which is dominant in the north.

When he stepped down in 2022, nearly 90% of Filipinos approved of his leadership—a record-high rating for a Philippine president since democracy was restored in 1986.

Duterte’s direct speaking style and strongman persona earned him comparisons to former U.S. President Donald Trump. He openly admired Russian President Vladimir Putin and shifted the Philippines’ foreign policy away from the U.S. toward China. In contrast, President Marcos has realigned the country with Washington and criticized Duterte’s administration for being too close to Beijing.

China’s foreign ministry reacted to Duterte’s arrest by warning the ICC against “politicization and double standards.”

Meanwhile, Duterte’s daughter and political successor, Sara Duterte, is seen as a strong contender for the 2028 presidential race. The current president, Marcos, is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election.

Source: BBC