Manila: Philippines authorities arrested former president Rodrigo Duterte late Tuesday upon his arrival at Manila International Airport from Hong Kong. The arrest was made on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity. The Philippine presidential office confirmed in a statement that Interpol's Manila office received the warrant early Tuesday, and Duterte is currently in custody with government doctors monitoring his health.
According to Kuwait News Agency, local media broadcasted a video showing Duterte questioning the legal basis for his arrest, asking under what law and for what crime he was being detained. Former chief presidential legal counsel and spokesperson Salvador Panelo described the arrest as "unlawful," arguing that the ICC "lacks jurisdiction over the Philippines," citing the country's withdrawal from the court in 2019 on Duterte's instructions.
In 2021, the ICC launched an investigation into claims that Duterte oversaw "mass killings" during his "war on drugs," which resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, according to police records. Although the investigation was previously suspended, it resumed last year after the ICC rejected Manila's objections to its jurisdiction.
President Ferdinand Marcos' administration has stated that it will not cooperate with the ICC. However, Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Claire Castro explained that the government is obliged to comply with any request from Interpol. Despite his arrest, the 79-year-old former president remains a significant figure in Philippine politics, with reports suggesting he may run for mayor of Davao Province in upcoming elections.