MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested Tuesday and swiftly transported to the Netherlands to face international criminal charges stemming from his controversial war on drugs, marking a dramatic turn in the nation’s political landscape.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Duterte’s arrest during a late-night press conference, revealing that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant through Interpol for alleged crimes against humanity committed during Duterte’s six-year presidency.
Duterte, 79, was apprehended at Manila’s international airport upon returning from Hong Kong, walking slowly with a cane and briefly addressing a small group of emotional supporters before being escorted onto a waiting aircraft.
The arrest highlighted growing tensions within Philippine political circles, particularly with Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, publicly condemning the move. She criticized the Marcos administration for “surrendering” her father to an international court she claims lacks jurisdiction in the Philippines.
The ICC has long investigated Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, which human rights groups estimate resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings. Duterte consistently denied wrongdoing, previously withdrawing the Philippines from the ICC’s jurisdiction.
This development represents an unprecedented moment in Philippine judicial history, potentially setting a significant precedent for international accountability of political leaders. (source: AP)
