Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was taken into custody at Manila's international airport on Tuesday following an arrest order from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over a crime against humanity case filed against him, according to the Philippine government.
Duterte was apprehended upon arrival from Hong Kong, with police enforcing the ICC’s arrest warrant in connection to the large-scale killings that took place under his violent anti-drug campaign, President Ferdinand Marcos' office stated.
“Upon his arrival, the prosecutor general presented the ICC notification of an arrest warrant to the former president for crimes against humanity,” the government said. “He is now in the custody of authorities.”
The unexpected arrest led to a commotion at the airport, where Duterte’s lawyers and aides vocally protested, claiming they, along with a doctor and legal representatives, were denied access to him after he was detained. “This is a violation of his constitutional rights,” said Sen. Bong Go, a close ally of Duterte.
Duterte’s arrest and subsequent downfall left families of those killed in his anti-drug campaign in shock, with many breaking down in tears.
“This is a long-awaited victory for justice,” said Randy delos Santos, the uncle of a teenager who was fatally shot by police in a 2017 anti-drug operation in Metro Manila.
“Now we feel that justice is moving forward. We hope that senior police officials and the hundreds of officers involved in these unlawful killings will also be held accountable and punished,” he added.
Three officers responsible for the killing of his nephew, Kian delos Santos, were convicted in 2018 for the high-profile murder, which led Duterte to temporarily halt his brutal anti-drug campaign at the time.
This conviction was among only a few against law enforcers linked to the campaign, reinforcing victims’ families' concerns that justice within the country remained elusive, prompting them to seek the ICC’s intervention.
It was unclear where Duterte was taken after his arrest, but the government confirmed that the 79-year-old former president was in good health.
The ICC’s investigation into Duterte’s drug-related killings covers the period from November 1, 2011—when he was mayor of Davao City—until March 16, 2019. Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute in 2019, a move that human rights advocates believe was aimed at evading accountability.
Source: AP
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
