Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested in Manila and flown to The Hague, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC). His arrest on Tuesday marks a significant development in the long-standing investigation into his controversial war on drugs.
According to an ICC warrant obtained by Reuters, Duterte is accused of criminal responsibility for the murder of at least 43 people between 2011 and 2019. These alleged crimes occurred during his tenure as mayor of Davao City and later as the country’s president from 2016 to 2022.
The ICC has been investigating allegations that Duterte’s anti-drug campaign led to widespread extrajudicial killings, raising concerns about human rights violations in the Philippines. His administration repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting that the campaign targeted criminals and upheld the rule of law.
His arrest has sparked reactions both domestically and internationally, with human rights groups hailing it as a step toward justice, while Duterte’s allies criticize the move as politically motivated. The former president’s legal team is expected to challenge the jurisdiction of the ICC, arguing that the Philippines withdrew from the court in 2019.
As proceedings unfold, global attention remains focused on The Hague, where Duterte’s trial could set a precedent for accountability in cases involving state-led violence.
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