Duterte, who served as Philippines’ president from 2016 to 2022, was taken into custody upon arrival, according to the office of his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. His arrest follows years of defiance against the ICC, which began investigating allegations of extrajudicial killings under his administration.
"Why will you bring me to the international body when we are no longer a member? Ponder on it seriously, because this will have implications," Duterte said in a livestream shared by his daughter, Veronica Duterte.
Duterte unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from the ICC’s founding treaty in 2019, claiming it no longer had jurisdiction over the country. However, the ICC argues it retains authority to investigate crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member.
If transferred to The Hague, Duterte would become the first former Asian head of state to stand trial at the ICC.
A copy of the ICC’s sealed arrest warrant, obtained by Reuters, accuses Duterte of criminal responsibility for at least 43 murders between 2011 and 2019—covering both his tenure as Davao City mayor and later as president.
During his presidency, Duterte’s anti-drug operations led to at least 6,200 recorded deaths in police operations. However, human rights groups claim the actual number could be as high as 30,000, with many victims killed in slum areas or targeted based on police watchlists.
Despite previous refusals to cooperate with the ICC, the Marcos administration shifted its stance in November 2024, signaling willingness to comply if a warrant was issued.
The ICC’s next steps remain unclear, but if Duterte is transferred to The Hague, he will face trial for crimes against humanity—a case that could set a precedent for global justice.
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