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Philippine police arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for crimes against humanity linked to his deadly "war on drugs." The 79-year-old was taken into custody shortly after arriving at Manila airport from Hong Kong.
"What is my sin? I did everything in my time for peace and a peaceful life for the Filipino people," Duterte told supporters before leaving Hong Kong. Later, in custody, he questioned the legal basis: "What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?"
The ICC warrant covers alleged crimes from November 2011 to March 2019, spanning his time as mayor of Davao and president. According to the warrant seen by Reuters, Duterte is accused of criminal responsibility for the murder of at least 43 people during this period.
Duterte's former spokesperson Salvador Panelo criticized the arrest as "unlawful," noting that the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019. However, the ICC maintains it has jurisdiction over crimes committed before the country's withdrawal.
Philippine police reported that 6,200 suspects were killed in anti-drug operations during Duterte's presidency, but rights groups claim the true toll is much higher. "The ICC prosecutor has said as many as 30,000 people may have been killed by police or unidentified individuals," Reuters reported.
"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 ICHRP chairman Peter Murphy.
Political scientist Richard Heydarian called it the "beginning of a new chapter in Philippine history," noting authorities arrested Duterte promptly to "avoid political chaos."
The arrest comes amid deteriorating relations between Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who initially refused to cooperate with the ICC but changed his stance in recent months.
Relatives of victims welcomed the development. "At least he is given the chance to defend his side, unlike the victims of his war on drugs," said Randy delos Santos, uncle of a high school student killed by police.
Duterte, who remains popular in the Philippines, particularly in his home region of Mindanao, has staunchly defended his anti-drug campaign. "Do not question my policies because I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did what I had to do," he told a parliament investigation last October.
If transferred to The Hague, Duterte could become Asia's first former head of state to stand trial at the ICC.
