Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Arrested on ICC Warrant Over “War on Drugs” Killings

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on Tuesday at Manila’s international airport following a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating alleged crimes against humanity during his notorious “war on drugs.” The arrest marks a significant step in the ICC’s probe into thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings that occurred during Duterte’s presidency from 2016 to 2022.

Duterte, 79, landed in Manila from Hong Kong, where he had been campaigning for the upcoming mid-term elections. Upon arrival, authorities served the arrest warrant issued by the ICC, which accuses him of overseeing a deadly campaign that led to the deaths of thousands of drug suspects, many of whom were unarmed and included children, the poor, and individuals with no proven ties to the drug trade. While police claim that 6,200 suspects were killed in legitimate operations, rights groups estimate the toll could exceed 30,000, with many victims murdered by gunmen, vigilantes, or law enforcement officers.

Duterte has repeatedly defended the anti-drug campaign, claiming it was necessary for national security, but human rights organizations have condemned the crackdown, arguing that it systematically targeted marginalized communities. His controversial policies included instructing police officers to “shoot and kill” drug suspects or provoke them into violent confrontations to justify the use of lethal force.

The ICC’s investigation centers on killings that occurred between 2011, when Duterte was mayor of Davao City, and March 2019, when the Philippines officially withdrew from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC. Despite the withdrawal, the court asserts jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before the country’s exit, and Duterte’s arrest comes as part of an ongoing effort to hold him accountable for the abuses committed during his rule.

In a video posted by his daughter, Veronica Duterte, while in police custody, the former president questioned the legality of his arrest. “What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?” he asked, calling the arrest unlawful and questioning the basis for his detention. He has vowed to challenge the ICC’s actions, insisting that the court lacks jurisdiction over the Philippines, a claim his legal team has maintained since he withdrew the country from the court in 2019.

Duterte’s arrest follows years of taunting the ICC, which began investigating the alleged extrajudicial killings in 2018. The move is hailed by human rights groups as a victory for justice. Human Rights Watch has called it “a critical step for accountability in the Philippines” and urged the government to swiftly hand over Duterte to face trial in The Hague.

Duterte, a former mayor of Davao, rose to national prominence with his tough stance on crime, promising to eradicate illegal drugs in the Philippines at any cost. He was elected president in 2016, having built his campaign on a promise to end the drug trade. His presidency saw the launch of the so-called “war on drugs,” which was marked by brutal crackdowns and widespread allegations of police killings and disappearances. The crackdown resulted in international outcry, with critics alleging that the majority of the victims were poor, young, and from urban slums.

Though Duterte remains popular in certain parts of the Philippines, especially in his home region of Mindanao, his policies have left a trail of controversy and tragic loss. His administration also saw the deaths of more than a dozen mayors and local officials, as well as numerous lawyers and judges. Several children were also caught in the crossfire, including some who were not involved in drugs.