(Adnkronos) – Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested at Manila airport on a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on suspicion of crimes against humanity in his ‘war’ on drug trafficking. Human rights organizations estimate that tens of thousands of people have been killed by police and vigilante groups, often without proof that they were linked to drugs.
The International Criminal Court has opened an investigation into the anti-drug campaign launched in 2016, which it believes may constitute a crime against humanity. “Early this morning, Interpol Manila received the official copy of the arrest warrant issued by the ICC,” the presidency said in a statement. “He is currently in custody. The former president and his entourage are in good health and are being examined by doctors.”
The former president was returning from a short trip to Hong Kong and had just landed at Manila International Airport. On Sunday, speaking before thousands of Filipino workers in Hong Kong, Rodrigo Duterte condemned the investigation, calling ICC investigators “sons of b…”, while admitting that he would “accept” being arrested if he were. The Philippines left the ICC in 2019 on his orders, but the Hague-based court said it retained jurisdiction over killings that took place before the country’s withdrawal, as well as killings committed in Davao City when Duterte was its mayor before becoming president.
According to official data released by the Philippines, more than 6,000 people were killed in anti-drug operations under Duterte’s presidency. International Criminal Court prosecutors estimate the death toll to be between 12,000 and 30,000. The former president remains extremely popular in the Philippines, where many have supported his quick fixes to crime. He remains a powerful political force and is fighting to regain his mayoral seat in the May midterm elections.
