Authorities in the Philippines arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, March 11th, following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for crimes against humanity. Duterte, accused of orchestrating thousands of extrajudicial killings during his controversial “war on drugs,” was transported to The Hague for trial.
The ICC warrant, issued after years of investigation, holds Duterte responsible for at least 43 murders between 2011 and 2019, covering his tenure as mayor of Davao City and later as president. ICC prosecutors estimate that as many as 30,000 people were killed under Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, many involving police or unidentified assailants.
Before his transfer, Duterte insisted he should be prosecuted in his home country. “If I committed a sin, prosecute me in Philippine courts,” he told officers while in custody in Manila.
Duterte launched a nationwide anti-drug crackdown immediately after taking office in June 2016, pledging to eliminate illegal drugs within six months. “I don’t care about human rights, believe me,” he declared early in his presidency.
Police operations began the next day, resulting in multiple fatalities. Over the years, thousands of suspected drug users and dealers were killed in what Duterte called a necessary effort to maintain law and order. Many victims were found bound, with their remains left in polluted creeks, garbage dumps, and open fields. Rights groups accused Duterte of fostering an environment that encouraged extrajudicial executions.
Despite international criticism, Duterte remained popular among Filipinos. Pulse Asia surveys showed Duterte maintained strong public support throughout his presidency, with many backing his hardline approach to crime. His campaign disproportionately targeted poor communities, with reports indicating that police received financial incentives for each suspect killed. Survivors and victims’ families have long sought justice, with some providing testimony in the ICC case.
Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019 after the court announced a preliminary investigation into the killings. However, the ICC maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before the withdrawal. The current government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. initially resisted cooperating with the ICC but later shifted its stance, ultimately allowing Duterte’s arrest.
As Duterte’s plane departed for The Hague, supporters gathered outside Villamor Air Base in Manila, decrying an unjust move against the former leader. Human rights advocates, however, described his arrest as a turning point.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but today, it has bent towards justice,” said Peter Murphy, chairman of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP). Families of victims expressed cautious optimism, with some stating they hoped this would bring long-awaited accountability.
