Manila, Philippines — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested in Manila following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity over his deadly “war on drugs.”
Duterte, 79, was taken into custody at Ninoy Aquino International Airport after arriving from Hong Kong, where he had been campaigning for his political allies ahead of the upcoming May 12 mid-term elections.
The arrest marks a major turning point in the long-standing debate over his controversial anti-drug crackdown, which saw thousands killed between 2016 and 2022.
A Long-Awaited Moment for Human Rights Advocates
Duterte’s arrest has been hailed as a “historic moment” by human rights groups that have long accused him of ordering extrajudicial killings.
“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,” said Peter Murphy, Chairperson of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP).
The ICC first opened an investigation into Duterte’s anti-drug campaign in 2021, covering cases from 2011 to 2019, before the Philippines withdrew from the court’s jurisdiction.
The crackdown, which Duterte once likened to Hitler’s massacre of Jews, left at least 6,000 people dead according to official police records.
However, human rights organizations estimate the real toll is significantly higher.
BREAKING NEWS: The Philippine National Police arrests former president Rodrigo Duterte for his alleged crimes against humanity. Duterte had been the subject of International Criminal Court investigations for the thousands of people killed in his brutal war on drugs waged when he…
Political Fallout and the Marcos Connection
Duterte’s legal troubles come at a tense political moment in the Philippines. His daughter, Sara Duterte, is the current Vice President and was once seen as a likely successor in 2028.
But the once-powerful Duterte-Marcos alliance has unraveled, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shifting his stance on the ICC probe.
Initially refusing to cooperate with the ICC, Marcos later softened his position, a move many interpreted as an attempt to distance himself from Duterte.
Now, the key question remains: Will Marcos allow Duterte’s extradition to The Hague?
BREAKING: Ex-Philippines President Duterte was arrested on an international warrant over his deadly anti-drug war, under investigation by the ICC aje.io/zgkhav
Duterte’s Defense: “Unlawful” Arrest?
Supporters of Duterte, including his former spokesperson Salvador Panelo, have condemned the arrest, calling it “unlawful” and arguing that since the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, the court no longer has jurisdiction.
But the ICC has maintained its authority over alleged crimes committed before the withdrawal, a stance backed by several international legal experts.
Duterte, who walked out of the airport using a cane, remains in “good health” under the care of government doctors, authorities said.
Whether he faces trial in The Hague or a prolonged legal battle in the Philippines, his arrest signals a major shift in the country’s political and legal landscape.
