Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Arrested on ICC Murder Charges in Manila
Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, was taken into custody by police in Manila on Tuesday after an arrest warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) linked to his controversial anti-drug campaign. The 79-year-old is charged with “the crime against humanity of murder,” amid allegations from human rights organizations that his war on drugs resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of individuals, predominantly from impoverished backgrounds, often without substantial evidence of their involvement with drugs.
In a statement, the presidential palace confirmed that Interpol Manila had received the official arrest warrant early in the day. “Currently, he is under the custody of authorities,” the statement noted, adding that Duterte and his entourage were in good health and being evaluated by government medical personnel.
In a video shared on his youngest daughter Veronica’s Instagram account after his detention, Duterte questioned the legal grounds for his arrest. “What is the law, and what crime have I committed? Show me now the legal basis for my being here,” he stated, expressing that he was not detained voluntarily. “You must now account for the deprivation of liberty.”
While the specific location of the video was undisclosed, an image released by Duterte’s political party indicated he was held at Villamor Air Base, adjacent to Manila’s international airport. Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s former chief legal counsel, criticized the arrest as “unlawful,” alleging that police denied one of Duterte’s lawyers access at the airport and did not provide a physical copy of the ICC warrant.
On the other hand, reactions from those opposing Duterte’s drug war were overwhelmingly positive. An organization that has supported mothers of victims from the anti-drug crackdown hailed the arrest as “a very welcome development.” Rubilyn Litao, a coordinator for Rise Up for Life and for Rights, expressed that the mothers of those killed in the drug war felt immense relief after waiting for this moment for a long time. The Philippine rights alliance Karapatan characterized the arrest as “long overdue,” urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure Duterte is handed over to the ICC for trial.
Human Rights Watch also called for Duterte’s swift surrender to the ICC, remarking that the arrest represents a “critical step for accountability in the Philippines.”
Duterte’s arrest at the international airport was executed after a short visit to Hong Kong. During an address to overseas Filipino workers, he previously dismissed the ICC inquiry, labeling the investigators derogatorily while acknowledging the possibility of arrest. The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019 at Duterte’s direction. However, the ICC maintains that it possesses jurisdiction over killings that occurred before the withdrawal, along with those happening during Duterte’s tenure as mayor of Davao.
The ICC launched a formal investigation in September 2021, which was paused two months later when the Philippine government stated it was re-evaluating several hundred drug-related deaths resulting from police actions, contract killers, and vigilantes. The investigation resumed in July 2023 after a five-judge panel dismissed the Philippines’ claims of lack of jurisdiction.
Despite the Marcos administration stating multiple times it would not cooperate with the ICC investigation, Claire Castro, Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office, indicated on Sunday that the government is obligated to comply if Interpol requests necessary assistance.
Rodrigo Duterte retains significant popularity in the Philippines, particularly among those who support his aggressive approach to crime. He is also campaigning to regain his position as mayor of Davao City in the upcoming midterm elections scheduled for May.
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