Former Philippine president Duterte arrested for drug war crimes
Philippine police have arrested Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the country, who served from 2016 to 2022. The politician is accused by the International Criminal Court of crimes against humanity in connection with Duterte's "war on drugs."
Philippine police arrested the 79-year-old politician at the airport in Manila on his return from Hong Kong. The arrest was based on charges brought against him by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The ICC accuses Rodrigo Duterte of crimes against humanity, specifically the brutal repression of individuals suspected of trafficking or even possessing small amounts of psychoactive substances.
According to prosecutors from the International Criminal Court, during Duterte's tenure from 2016 to 2022, thousands of people died in the brutal campaign. Ruthless torture of individuals suspected of drug-related activities also occurred when the Filipino politician was the mayor of Davao City.
Former Philippine president arrested; he does not plead guilty
Duterte questioned the validity of his arrest and did not plead guilty. The BBC reports that he addressed the officers, asking, "What crime did I commit?" Associates of the 79-year-old politician condemn the arrest based on the ICC warrant.
Former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo believes the arrest is "illegal." He points out that in 2019, the Philippines withdrew from the treaty on the International Criminal Court.
Members of the ICC emphasize that the international court can rule on cases that occurred while the Philippines was a member of the treaty. This ruling formed the basis for Rodrigo Duterte's arrest.
Human rights organizations in the Philippines believe that the arrest of the former president is a "historic moment" and serves as moral restitution for the families of the victims of the campaign.
"The New York Times" cites data from human rights organizations in the Philippines. According to statistics, approximately 30,000 people died in Duterte's "war on drugs" campaign. By the end of his presidency, the authorities had killed exactly 6,252 people "suspected of involvement in drug-related activities."
