Duterte was arrested at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday after arriving from Hong Kong.
The former Philippine president was taken to custody based on the ICC orders. According to Philippine government officials, Duterte was charged with a case linked to ” a crime against humanity”.
Known for his aggressive rhetoric and claims of personally taking lives, Duterte led a harsh anti-crime crackdown that saw thousands of suspected drug offenders killed. While his methods drew international criticism, he maintained widespread domestic support for his uncompromising stance on law and order. However, his tenure was also marked by crude remarks about rape, the imprisonment of critics, and an inability to tackle systemic corruption, according to reports.
Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. Credits : Reuters
Back in 2016, within just hours after assuming office in June 2016 as president he reportedly said:
“If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful,”
“Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there are three million drug addicts (in the Philippines). I’d be happy to slaughter them.”
METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 11: Philippines National Police officers gather outside the Villamor Airbase where former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is currently being held after he was arrested on an International Criminal Court warrant (Photo by Daniel Ceng/Anadolu via Getty Images)
When the Philippine Senate launched an investigation into the drug war in October, Duterte declared that he had “no apologies, no excuses” for his decisions.
“I did what I had to do, and whether or not you believe it or not, I did it for my country,” he stated.
