Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrested on ICC warrant

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating allegations that “crimes against humanity” were committed during his so-called “war on drugs”.

According to Aljazeera Duterte was taken into custody on Tuesday at Manila airport upon his arrival from Hong Kong, according to the Philippine government, which received the ICC request via Interpol, the international police agency.

ment said in a statement. “He’s now in the custody of authorities.”

The charge is related to Duterte’s brutal anti-drugs drive, which he ran during his time in office from 2016 to 2022. Suspects were deprived of “due process under the law” and thousands of people, including children, died, according to the complaint.

The former president questioned the legality of the arrest.

What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?” Duterte said in a video uploaded to social media by his daughter, Veronica Duterte.

“Explain to me now the legal basis for my being here as apparently I was brought here not of my own volition. It’s somebody else’s,” he added.