Philippines: Duterte 'arrested', taken to police camp

Manila: Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte — known for his tough talk — has reportedly been “taken away,” according to his lawyer, Atty. Martin Delgra.

The 79-year-old faces a charge of "the crime against humanity of murder", according to the ICC, for a crackdown in which rights groups estimate tens of thousands of mostly poor men were killed by officers and vigilantes, often without proof they were linked to drugs.

"Early in the morning, Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC," the presidential palace said in a statement.

"As of now, he is under the custody of authorities."

The statement added that "the former president and his group are in good health and are being checked by government doctors".

Senator Bong Go and ex-Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello claim Duterte was “arrested.”

Duterte spent a few days in Hong Kong and met members of the Filipino community there, and flew back to Manila on Tuesday on a Cathay Pacific flight.

Speaking to thousands of overseas Filipino workers there on Sunday, the former president decried the investigation, labelling ICC investigators "sons of whores" while saying he would "accept it" if an arrest were to be his fate.

An arrest warrant was issued by the Interpol, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

Manila received early on Tuesday morning the official copy of the warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC), as per the PCO.

Local media reported that as soon as the Cathay Pacific (Flight CX 907) landed, the Prosecutor General presented the ICC notification for the arrest warrant of the former president.

Government doctors checked on Duterte and confirmed that he is good condition.

Filipino police officers were wearing bodycams during the "arrest", according to local media.

Bello, who is also a lawyer, said PNP Chief Gen. Marbil told them Duterte will be brought to Camp Crame, headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Death squads

The Philippines quit the ICC in 2019 on Duterte's instructions, but the tribunal maintained it had jurisdiction over killings before the pullout, as well as killings in the southern city of Davao when Duterte was mayor there, years before he became president.

It launched a formal inquiry in September 2021, only to suspend it two months later after Manila said it was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations that led to deaths at the hands of police, hitmen and vigilantes.

The case resumed in July 2023 after a five-judge panel rejected the Philippines' objection that the court lacked jurisdiction.

Since then, the government of President Ferdinand Marcos has on numerous instances said it would not cooperate with the investigation.

But Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office Claire Castro on Sunday said that if Interpol would "ask the necessary assistance from the government, it is obliged to follow".

Duterte is still hugely popular among many in the Philippines.

His quick-fix solutions to crime and drugs have earned him both ardent fans and enemies.

He also succeeded in jailing former Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on trumped-up charges. De Lima, who led investigations the so-called "Duterte's death squads", stayed behind bars for 7 years, most of it under Duterte's watch and was freed after most of the "star" witnesses recanted their statements linking her to drugs.

Duterte, who remains a potent political force, is now running to reclaim his job as mayor of his stronghold Davao in the May 12, 2025 mid-term election.

While charges have been filed locally in a handful of cases related to drug operations that led to deaths, and nine police had been convicted for slaying alleged drug suspects.

A self-professed executioner, Duterte told officers to fatally shoot narcotics suspects if their lives were at risk and insisted the crackdown saved families and prevented the Philippines from turning into a "narco-politics state".

At the opening of a Philippine Senate probe into the drug war in October, Duterte said he offered "no apologies, no excuses" for his actions.

"I did what I had to do, and whether or not you believe it or not, I did it for my country," he said.

Duterte, a former state prosecutor, has earlier declared he is ready to face the ICC. Speaking to local media, Duterte emphasised that he would confront the issue head-on as a lawyer and had no plans to escape to another country.

In an interview with GMA Integrated News’ Marisol Abdurahman, Duterte was asked if he would appear should the ICC summon him.

“I would say that not really appear or non-appearance, but I will deal with the problem directly as a lawyer,” he stated.

Duterte also dismissed speculation that his recent trip to Hong Kong was an attempt to evade arrest. He added that his visit had nothing to do with the ICC case and that he has no intention of running away from the legal battle ahead.

"The possibility of me getting caught is bigger here in Hong Kong. I am here as a visitor. We do not enjoy any privileges here. Besides, if ever I hide, I won't hide anywhere else. I will hide in the Philippines. You won't see me there," he told the channel in Filipino language.