MANILA (Agencies): Former Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested under an International Criminal Court [ICC] warrant for alleged crimes against humanity during the deadly “war on drugs” that killed thousands during his term.
He was taken into custody on March 11 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila after returning from a trip to Hong Kong, according to the Philippine government UCAN reported.
“Early in the morning, Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC,” the presidential palace said in a statement. The warrant was served by Philippine prosecutor general, Richard Anthony Fadullon.
“As of now, he is under the custody of authorities,” it added.
Duterte was brought to nearby Villamor Air Force Base, according to the Philippine Inquirer.
He was placed on a flight to The Hague, the Netherlands, later that evening, media sources reported.
“The plane is en route to The Hague in the Netherlands allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs,’’ Philippine president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., said during a late night press conference, GMA News reported.
The plane is en route to The Hague in the Netherlands allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs
Bongbong Marcos
Marcos said that the arrest was carried out “because Interpol asked us to do it and we have commitments.”
He pointed out, ‘’If we don’t do that, they will not—they will no longer help us with other cases involving Filipino fugitives abroad.’’
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Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, of Kidapawan said, “For years, former President Duterte has claimed that he is ready to face the consequences of his actions. Now is the time for him to prove it,” CBCP News reported.
“True justice is not about political allegiance or personal loyalty—it is about accountability, transparency, and the protection of human dignity. We urge Duterte to uphold his own words and submit himself to the legal process,” the bishop added.
“This is where we will see whether his actions were right or wrong and whether he should be held responsible if they were wrong,” Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Taytay told Radio Veritas.
“That is what democracy should be—no one is above the law, and everyone must answer for their actions,” he said.
True justice is not about political allegiance or personal loyalty—it is about accountability, transparency, and the protection of human dignity. We urge Duterte to uphold his own words and submit himself to the legal process
Bishop Bagaforo
A day earlier, the 79-year old former president, appeared unapologetic and expressed a willingness to go to jail.
“That is okay. I will accept that. There’s nothing we can do. They can arrest me and put me in jail,” Duterte said on March 10, speaking to around 2,000 overseas Filipino workers at a political rally for the Philippine mid-term elections at Hong Kong’s Southorn Stadium, the SCMP reported.
With him was his daughter, Sara Duterte, the Philippine vice president who was recently impeached on a range of accusations including plotting to assassinate the president and large-scale corruption.
“This is a big, long-awaited day for justice,” said Randy delos Santos, the uncle of Kian delos Santos, the teenager who was killed by police during an anti-drug operation in August 2017, The Associated Press reported.
“Now we feel that justice is rolling. We hope that top police officials and the hundreds of police officers who were involved in the illegal killings should also be placed in custody and punished,” delos Santos said.
