By Gill Bikram Singh 
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested by local authorities following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity linked to his controversial “war on drugs.”
The 79-year-old was detained at Manila airport shortly after arriving from Hong Kong. He has long defended his anti-drug campaign, which led to thousands of deaths during his presidency from 2016 to 2022 and earlier as mayor of Davao City.
Duterte Questions Arrest
Upon his arrest, Duterte challenged the warrant, asking, “What crime have I committed?” His former spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, condemned the arrest as “unlawful,” arguing that the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019. However, the ICC maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before the withdrawal.
Human rights groups welcomed the arrest, calling it a “historic moment for justice.” Peter Murphy, chairman of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP), stated, “Duterte’s arrest marks the beginning of accountability for the mass killings that defined his rule.”
Duterte had been in Hong Kong campaigning for the upcoming mid-term elections, where he planned to run for mayor of Davao. Footage showed him walking out of the airport with a cane before being taken into custody. Authorities confirmed he is in good health.
Duterte’s Deadly Anti-Drug Crackdown
As mayor of Davao, Duterte gained a reputation for his hardline stance on crime, which propelled him to the presidency in 2016. His administration encouraged security forces to shoot suspected drug offenders, leading to over 6,000 documented deaths. However, human rights groups claim the actual toll is much higher.
A United Nations report found that most victims were poor, young men, and that police often forced suspects to confess under threat of deadly force. Critics argue the campaign disproportionately targeted low-level drug users while failing to dismantle major drug syndicates.
Investigations pointed to the existence of a “death squad” carrying out extrajudicial killings. Duterte has denied any wrongdoing, stating, “I did what I had to do for my country.”
Political Implications
Duterte remains a popular figure, especially in his home region of Mindanao. His populist style and blunt rhetoric earned him the nickname “Donald Trump of the East.”
His daughter, Sara Duterte, currently serves as the Philippines’ vice president and is considered a strong candidate for the 2028 presidential elections. However, the alliance between the Duterte family and current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has deteriorated. While Marcos initially resisted ICC investigations, he has since signaled willingness to cooperate.
It remains unclear whether Duterte will face extradition to stand trial at The Hague, but his arrest signals a major shift in the Philippines’ stance on accountability for the drug war killings.