Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by police at Manila International Airport based on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. This was reported by the AFP agency, citing a statement from the country's presidential office.
Why was Duterte arrested?
The International Criminal Court has opened an investigation into Duterte regarding potential crimes related to anti-drug operations conducted during his presidency.
According to human rights defenders in the Philippines, thousands of people, including citizens with no connection to drug trafficking, have been killed without trial under the pretext of the war on drugs.
Duterte has repeatedly called for the physical punishment of drug dealers and has admitted to personally killing three individuals. During his administration, a wave of extrajudicial killings began in the country, which was met with strong criticism from the international community.
The arrest process
According to sources, at Manila International Airport, Interpol received an official copy of the ICC warrant and arrested the former president based on that.
Duterte was arrested upon returning from a short visit to Hong Kong, as he arrived in Manila on a Cathay Pacific flight.
The Philippine government's and lawyers' response
The former president's lawyers deemed Duterte's arrest illegal and are opposing this situation. According to Reuters, the Philippine police had prepared in advance for Duterte's return, and strong security measures were implemented at the airports.
Relations between the Philippines and the International Criminal Court
During his presidency, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the International Criminal Court in 2019. However, the court has stated that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed prior to this decision.
The official investigation began in 2021, but after the Philippine government announced it would conduct an internal investigation into drug operations, the ICC temporarily suspended the case.
However, in July 2023, a panel of five judges from the ICC rejected the objections of Philippine officials, and the case was reinstated.
What awaits Duterte?
For now, Duterte's fate is uncertain. There has been no official decision on how the court proceedings will unfold and whether the Philippine government will hand Duterte over to the international tribunal.
Meanwhile, this event could lead to significant political and legal changes in the Philippines.
Duterte's accountability before the international court could be a historic event for the Philippines and the international legal system. The outcome of the case against him is being closely watched worldwide.
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