Former Philippine President Arrested at Manila Airport by International Criminal Court Warrant

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested based on an International Criminal Court warrant related to a case of crimes against humanity. The Philippine government confirmed on Tuesday, March 12, that Duterte was detained at Manila airport after returning from Hong Kong. The location of the former president's detention and the timing of his transfer to Europe for the ICC trial have not been disclosed, but the government statement emphasized that the 79-year-old politician is in good health. The international arrest warrant for Duterte was issued in connection with the killings of numerous individuals accused of involvement in drug trafficking during his presidency. The International Criminal Court stated that the 'war on drugs' in the Philippines constitutes an attack on civilians. Duterte's sudden arrest at the airport faced protests from his lawyers and advisors. The arrest warrant issued by the ICC noted that 'there is reliable evidence indicating that the targeting of victims was not only widespread but also organized; attacks that continued over the years and appear to have resulted in the deaths of thousands.' The warrant, issued on March 8, stated that 'given that Rodrigo Duterte is expected to ignore court summons, his arrest is necessary to ensure his presence in court.' The Philippine government had confirmed in 2018 that at least five thousand people were killed during the government's anti-drug operations. The ICC's investigation into drug-related killings suspected of being 'crimes against humanity' spans from November 2011, when Duterte was the mayor of Davao in southern Philippines, to five years ago, in March 2019. Five years ago, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute, an action that human rights activists claim was aimed at evading accountability for organized killings. In a speech in December 2016, Duterte personally stated that when he was the mayor of Davao, he would ride around on a motorcycle looking for 'criminals' to 'kill' so that others would learn from him and follow his example. Families of victims of violence during Duterte's presidency expressed surprise and joy at his arrest, calling it 'historic.' They hope that senior police commanders and hundreds of officers involved in those violent acts will also be prosecuted and punished.