Interpol Arrest Warrant for Duterte Shakes Philippines

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested upon arrival in Manila following an Interpol warrant issued by the ICC for suspected crimes against humanity linked to his war on drugs. Duterte, who withdrew from the ICC treaty in 2019, has strongly defended his anti-drug policies.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was detained at Manila's airport on Tuesday as he faced an Interpol arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The warrant is related to Duterte's controversial involvement in crimes against humanity over his bloody war on drugs, which notoriously claimed thousands of lives.

Duterte had publicly announced in Hong Kong that he was prepared to face arrest if warranted by the ICC. He staunchly supported his controversial anti-drug operations, asserting that police were only allowed to kill in self-defense. The office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr confirmed that the warrant was served and that Duterte was in police custody.

Salvador Panelo, Duterte's former legal counsel, challenged the legality of the arrest and criticized authorities for denying access to Duterte's legal team at the airport. Notably, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC's jurisdiction in 2019 amidst allegations of systemic extrajudicial killings, a contentious issue the nation has resisted cooperating with.

(With inputs from agencies.)