Topline
Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, was arrested in the country’s capital Manila on Tuesday after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant against him as part of an investigation into accusations of crimes against humanity committed by the former leader as part of his deadly war on drugs in the country.
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested at the Manila Airport after returning from … [+]
Key Facts
The Philippine government said Duterte was arrested at 9:20 a.m. local time immediately after he arrived at Manila’s main international airport after returning from a trip to Hong Kong.
The government officials said the 79-year-old former president was in good health and Philippine National Police officers wearing body cameras carried out the arrest.
According to a copy of the ICC’s arrest warrant, the three judge panel overseeing the investigation into Duterte’s actions said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that the killings carried out as part of his regime’s war on drugs “was both widespread and systematic.”
The warrant noted that these thousands of killings took place “over a period of several years.”
According to the New York Times, former president’s attorneys questioned the legality of the arrest, citing Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute-which among other things establishes the ICC’s jurisdiction—in 2019 during Duterte’s term in office.
Duterte’s lawyers and aides also protested not being allowed to meet him at the airport before he was apprehended, with one of his close allies Senator Bong Go telling reporters this was a “violation of his constitutional right.”
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
How Did Duterte React To The Arrest?
The former president struck a defiant tone after his arrest as he appeared to question the legality of the move in a video shared by his daughter Veronica Duterte’s Instagram stories. Duterte is being held at Villamor Air Base, the military controlled side of Manila’s international airport, and in the video he is seen questioning the country’s Prosecutor General Anthony Fadullon about the “legal basis for my being here.” Duterte is heard asking about what law he had broken and what crime he had committed before adding “I was brought here not of my own volition. It is somebody else’s.” A separate clip shared by local broadcaster GMA Integrated News, shows Duterte still inside his plane as he is heard saying, “You will just have to kill me first if you want to side with white foreigners.”
What To Know About The Icc’s Investigation Into Duterte?
The ICC’s warrant covers alleged crimes committed between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019. This covers the entirety of Duterte’s term as the mayor of Davao city and the first three years of his presidency. The judges who issued the warrant note that while the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute on March 17, 2019, the ICC’s jurisdiction was still valid for crimes committed before that date. The warrant notes that during his stints as mayor and president, Duterte had the power to “appoint key law enforcement officials” and create the network, “which killed those identified as alleged criminals and shielded perpetrators from being held accountable for their crimes.” The investigation into the former president’s actions showed that he allegedly gave financial incentives to “police officers and hitmen” and made public comments “authorizing, condoning and promoting killings and dehumanizing alleged criminals.”
Further Reading
Rodrigo Duterte arrested over ICC case (Rappler)
Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine Ex-President, Is Arrested on I.C.C. Warrant (The New York Times)
