Rodrigo Duerte, former Philippine President, got arrested on an ICC warrant upon his arrival to Manila on Tuesday. The arrest has happened due to ICC investigation concerning Duerte’s anti-narcotics campaign during his presidency from 2016 to 2022 that killed more than 6,000 people.
Authorities detained Rodrigo Duerte after his return from Hong Kong, where he has met thousands of Filipino migrant workers. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that a plane with Duterte has left the country for The Hague, where the former President will face charges of crimes against humanity.
Legal experts state that had the Marcos-Duterte axis held, the administration might have disregarded the enforcement of the warrant. Duterte, invoking the Philippines’ 2019 ICC withdrawal as a cancellation of the order, has petitioned the Supreme Court to inhibit his transfer.
The case of Duterte sets a precedent as he becomes the first former Asian leader to be arrested on ICC charges. The move spooked financial markets, as Philippine stocks fell over 2% while the peso gained 0.3% against the dollar. Reactions abroad were varied to the move, as China cautioned the ICC against “politicizing”.
Despite his previous willingness to be jailed, Duterte now has a legal battle on his hands. His incarceration raises questions about the Philippines’ approach to international justice and the future of political power in the country. As the case continues, his once-dominant legacy is now being overshadowed by international law.
