Philippine police have arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The warrant accuses him of crimes against humanity related to his controversial “war on drugs,” which resulted in thousands of deaths during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
Duterte, 79, was taken into custody upon his arrival at Manila airport from Hong Kong, where he had been campaigning for the upcoming mid-term elections. He had planned to run for mayor of Davao, a position he held for 22 years before becoming president.
Duterte Defends His Actions
Upon his arrest, Duterte questioned the basis of the warrant, asking, “What crime have I committed?” He has consistently defended his anti-drug campaign, refusing to apologize for the brutal crackdown that targeted drug suspects. “What is my sin? I did everything in my time for peace and a peaceful life for the Filipino people,” he told supporters before leaving Hong Kong.
His former presidential spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, criticized the arrest as “unlawful,” citing the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2019. However, the ICC maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before the country’s withdrawal.
A Historic Moment for Justice
Human rights activists hailed the arrest as a significant step toward accountability. Peter Murphy, chairman of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP), called it a “historic moment” for the victims of Duterte’s drug war and their families. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but today, it has bent towards justice,” Murphy said.
The Brutal Drug War
Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, launched during his presidency, saw over 6,000 suspects killed by police or unknown assailants. Rights groups estimate the actual number could be much higher. A UN report revealed that most victims were young, poor urban males, and police often forced suspects to make self-incriminating statements or face lethal force.
Critics argue that the campaign disproportionately targeted low-level drug pushers while failing to apprehend high-profile drug lords. Many families of the victims claim their loved ones were innocent and simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
ICC Investigation and Political Fallout
The ICC began investigating alleged abuses in 2021, covering cases from November 2011, when Duterte was mayor of Davao, to March 2019, before the Philippines’ withdrawal from the court. Duterte has repeatedly denied allegations of abuse, stating, “I did what I had to do, and whether or not you believe it… I did it for my country.”
The arrest comes amid a public rift between the Duterte family and incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who initially refused to cooperate with the ICC investigation but later shifted his stance as relations with the Dutertes soured. It remains unclear whether Marcos will extradite Duterte to stand trial in The Hague.
Duterte’s Legacy and Popularity
Despite the controversy, Duterte remains a popular figure in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao, where he is seen as a champion of the marginalized. His populist rhetoric and blunt style earned him the nickname “Donald Trump of the East.” He also shifted the country’s foreign policy toward China and away from the United States, its traditional ally.
His daughter, Sara Duterte, the current vice-president, is considered a potential presidential candidate in 2028. The Duterte family’s political influence remains strong, even as their alliance with Marcos has publicly unraveled.
As Duterte faces the possibility of trial, the arrest marks a pivotal moment in the Philippines’ pursuit of justice for the victims of his brutal drug war.
