Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrested following ICC request

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested upon his arrival at Manila’s main airport on Tuesday after being served an Interpol arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the government announced.  

The ICC is pursuing an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity linked to Duterte’s role in the brutal "war on drugs," which claimed thousands of Filipino lives.  

While in Hong Kong on Monday, Duterte stated he was prepared for arrest if the ICC issued a warrant. He has consistently defended the anti-drug campaign, denying any orders for extrajudicial killings unless in self-defense.  

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s office confirmed receiving an official copy of the warrant, which was executed by police, placing Duterte in custody.  

Duterte’s former legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, condemned the arrest as unlawful, alleging that police prevented one of Duterte’s lawyers from meeting him at the airport.  

In 2019, Duterte unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from the ICC’s founding treaty after the court initiated a probe into alleged extrajudicial killings. The Philippines had refused to cooperate with the ICC’s investigation until last year.  

Duterte’s "war on drugs" was a key campaign promise that propelled him to power in 2016. As a tough-talking mayor, he vowed to eliminate drug dealers, and his crackdown resulted in thousands of deaths.  

According to police, 6,200 suspects were killed in drug operations, allegedly in shootouts. However, activists argue the true death toll is significantly higher, with thousands of drug users—many listed on official watchlists—killed under unclear circumstances.  

Law enforcement denies involvement in extrajudicial killings and rejects accusations from human rights groups of systematic executions and cover-ups.