Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila on Tuesday over his controversial anti-drug campaign that led to thousands of deaths during his time in office.
Duterte arrived in the Philippines from Hong Kong, where he had earlier stated he was prepared for arrest if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant. His “war on drugs” was a key policy following his 2016 election victory, during which he vowed to eliminate drug dealers.
Human rights organizations accuse Philippine authorities of carrying out extrajudicial killings of unarmed drug suspects under Duterte’s leadership—claims that the government has repeatedly denied. The ICC has been investigating potential crimes against humanity linked to the crackdown.
Although Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration has signaled willingness to cooperate. On Monday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed that law enforcement would comply with legal obligations if an Interpol request required Duterte’s arrest.
