EX-PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE ARRESTED ON ICC WARRANT FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

[RClarkTaylor]

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, at international airport of Manila upon his return from Hong Kong, the arrest was made pursuant to an Interpol warrant issued by the International Criminal Court ICC which has been investigating Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his controversial "war on drugs" campaign during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.

Duterte anti-drug campaign was marked by widespread extrajudicial killings, with estimates suggesting that thousands of Filipinos lost their lives, human rights groups have consistently criticized the campaign for denying suspects their right to due process leading to summary executions by police or unidentified assailants, duterte has maintained that his actions were necessary to combat crime and protect the Filipino people, though he has denied ordering the execution of drug suspects unless it was in self-defense.

The ICC began investigating Duterte's actions in 2018, focusing on alleged crimes against humanity committed during his tenure as mayor of Davao City from 1, November 2011, to 16, March 2019, in 2019, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC, in an attempt to evade accountability for the killings, but the ICC maintained that it retained jurisdiction over crimes committed before the withdrawal, in July 2023, the ICC appeals judges ruled that the investigation could proceed dismissing objections from Duterte administration.

Human rights organizations have praised the arrest of Duterte as a major step towards accountability for the mass killings that took place during his presidency, but his supporters have criticized the arrest as illegal, pointing to the Philippines withdrawal from the ICC, Duterte arrest was made possible by the Philippine government, which received the ICC warrant and carried it out once he arrived in Manila.

The arrest takes place within the Philippines complicated political environment, the 2022 successor to Duterte, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has stated that he is prepared to work with the ICC if it asks for help in capturing Duterte, this change in position is a reflection of the worsening relationship between Marcos and Duterte, who were once allies but are now at odds, given that Sara Duterte, Duterte's daughter, is still a significant player in Philippine politics, the arrest may have an impact on the country's political landscape going forward.

Whether Duterte is extradited to The Hague for trial will determine the course of his case, the ICC power and the willingness of national governments to work with international justice systems will be put to the test if it can bring charges against Duterte, the verdict might establish a standard for future handling of cases of this nature especially in nations that have left the ICC.

In conclusion, Rodrigo Duterte detention is a major step toward holding him accountable for alleged crimes against humanity, the international community determination to confront grave violations of human rights, especially when they include former leaders of state, as demonstrated by the ICC inquiry and subsequent warrant, it will be important to watch how the Philippines and other countries react to these events both at home and abroad as the judicial process progresses.