Rodrigo Duterte arrested in Manila for his deadly war on drugs

Rodrigo Duterte, former president of Philippines, was arrested on his return to Manila March 11, 2025, following the issue of a mandate of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

The arrest, confirmed by the President's Communications Office, derives from of an ongoing ICC investigation on the war controversial against drugs led by Mr. Duterte, which has resulted in more than 6,000 officially recorded deaths, although independent sources believe that the balance sheet is significantly higher.

The 79-year-old ex-leader was arrested at the’Ninoy Aquino international airport, where a chaotic scene unfolded as he disembarked from a flight from Hong Kong. The authorities, acting on the basis of a notification official Interpol, He was immediately taken into custody.

ICC jurisdiction despite Philippines withdrawal

Duterte has repeatedly rejected allegations of’extrajudicial executions related to his anti-drug campaign, arguing that law enforcement was simply maintaining public order. During his presidency (2016-2022), human rights organizations and international bodies accused his administration of systematic abuses targeting drug users and small-scale dealers, often from impoverished communities.

Despite Duterte's decision to withdraw Philippines of the ICC in 2019, the Court retains jurisdiction over crimes committed when the country was still a member. Bryony Lau, deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch, stressed that Duterte's detention is «a crucial step for the accountability of Philippines »It also reinforces the fact that «no one is above the law».

Mr. Duterte's former spokesman, Harry Roque, said the arrest was illegal, declaring The arrest warrant has no basis because it was issued at a time when we are no longer members of the ICC.« He also accused the authorities of unlawful detention, claiming that the appropriate documents had not been presented.

In the meantime, the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., elected in 2022, has expressed his willingness to cooperate with the CPI. Claire Castro, under-secretary at Presidential Communications Office, confirmed the government's readiness to follow legal protocols, telling reporters Our law enforcement agencies are ready to follow whatever the law dictates, if the arrest warrant has to be served«.

Duterte's defiant stance

A few days before his arrest, Mr. Duterte addressed his supporters in Hong Kong, downplaying the ICC's actions. «According to my own information, I have an arrest warrant ... from the ICC or something. What did I do wrong? »he asked, asserting that his actions were aimed at restoring peace and order to the region. Philippines.

Throughout his political career, Mr. Duterte has earned a reputation as a tough-talking crime fighter. As mayor of Davao City, He has been accused of having links with vigilante groups carrying out extrajudicial executions, a pattern he has apparently adopted in his presidency.

In his last campaign speech before winning the 2016 elections, he infamously declared : «If I get to the presidential palace, I'll do what I did as mayor. You drug dealers, bank robbers and lazy bums had better get out. Because as mayor, I'd kill you.

Despite his arrest, Mr. Duterte recently filed a new candidacy for mayor of Davao, an attempt to maintain its political influence against a backdrop of tensions with the president Marcos Jr.. and her own daughter, the vice-president Sara Duterte.

The government Filipino must now return Duterte to the CPI, with political resistance from Duterte's allies still able to block the process and prevent the former Phillipines president from being held to account for his past actions.