Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, at Manila’s international airport. The arrest was carried out by police at the request of the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking a significant step in the investigation into thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings during his presidency.
Duterte’s “war on drugs” was a defining policy of his administration, which began in 2016. The campaign aimed to eradicate narcotics from the Philippines but resulted in widespread allegations of human rights abuses. According to official figures, 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations, but rights groups estimate the death toll to be between 12,000 and 30,0002. Many of these deaths were attributed to extrajudicial killings, with accusations that Duterte’s administration systematically targeted poor communities.
In 2019, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC’s founding treaty unilaterally as the court began investigating these allegations. Despite this withdrawal, the ICC maintained jurisdiction over crimes committed before the withdrawal. The Philippines had refused to cooperate with the ICC’s investigation until recently, when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that his government would comply with the ICC’s request for Duterte’s arrest.
Duterte has consistently defended his anti-drug campaign, denying responsibility for any unlawful deaths and insisting that police were instructed to kill only in self-defense. However, his controversial statements and actions during his presidency, such as urging citizens to kill drug addicts themselves, have drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations and the international community.
The arrest of Duterte marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of justice for the victims of his “war on drugs.” As the investigation continues, the world will be watching to see how the case unfolds and what implications it may have for the future of human rights and accountability in the Philippines.
