Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested yesterday at Manila’s international airport under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The 79-year-old was returning from Hong Kong when law enforcement took him into custody for alleged crimes against humanity tied to his antidrug campaign.
The arrest concludes the yearslong ICC investigation into Duterte's war on drugs, spanning from his mayorship in Davao (November 2011) through his presidency (2016-22) until March 2019, when the Philippines withdrew from the ICC. Official records cite more than 6,000 deaths, while human rights groups estimate the toll could be closer to 30,000. The ICC accuses Duterte of orchestrating widespread unlawful killings targeting civilians while providing immunity to perpetrators and rewarding police officers with financial incentives.
His supporters argue the arrest is illegal because the court lacks jurisdiction, but the ICC maintains it retains authority over crimes committed before the withdrawal.
Comentarios