From ‘war on drugs’ to arrest: What is Philippine’s ex-president Rodrigo Duterte accused of?

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity over his violent anti-drugs campaign.
His detention follows years of international investigations into the thousands of extrajudicial killings that occurred during his presidency and earlier political career. Duterte, 79 and in poor health, was taken into custody at Manila International Airport upon his return from a trip to Hong Kong, where he had dismissed the ICC warrant and continued to justify his brutal crackdown on drug suspects.

Who is Rodrigo Duterte?

Duterte, a former prosecutor, congressman, and longtime mayor of Davao City, gained notoriety for his tough stance on crime. He was elected president in 2016 on a populist platform, promising to eradicate drugs and corruption in the country. His leadership was marked by inflammatory rhetoric, expletive-laden speeches, and open defiance of Western governments and human rights groups that condemned his policies.
Despite international criticism, Duterte remained popular at home, particularly among the poor, who saw his harsh methods as a way to restore order. His supporters hailed him as a strongman leader, while critics accused him of turning the Philippines into a killing field. Throughout his term, he repeatedly threatened to kill drug suspects and even claimed to have personally taken part in executions while serving as mayor of Davao.

What were the charges against him?

The ICC opened an investigation into Duterte’s drug war, covering the period from November 1, 2011—when he was still mayor of Davao—to March 16, 2019, during his presidency. Prosecutors accused him of committing crimes against humanity through systematic murders of suspected drug users and dealers. Human rights organisations estimate the death toll from his campaign to be between 12,000 and 30,000, with police acknowledging at least 6,000 official deaths.
The warrant, issued as part of the ICC’s ongoing investigation, accused Duterte of crimes against humanity linked to the thousands of extrajudicial killings that took place under his administration.
The ICC’s decision came after years of scrutiny of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, which saw police and vigilantes accused of executing suspected drug offenders. While Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019, the court maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a member.

“There is a reasonable basis for the Prosecutor to proceed with an investigation, in the sense that the crime against humanity of murder appears to have been committed, and that potential case(s) arising from such investigation appear to fall within the Court’s jurisdiction,” the ICC said.
Duterte repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting his campaign was lawful and necessary to combat the drug crisis in the Philippines. His spokesperson criticised the arrest order, calling it politically motivated and an infringement on national sovereignty. Supporters argue that Duterte’s crackdown reduced crime and improved public safety.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte in 2022, has refused to rejoin the ICC but stated that his administration would cooperate with international law enforcement if a Red Notice—an Interpol request for arrest—was issued.

Duterte’s deadly war on drugs

Duterte’s anti-drugs campaign, launched immediately after he took office in 2016, became one of the most controversial crackdowns in modern history. He instructed police to kill drug suspects, famously stating, “All of you who are into drugs, you sons of bitches, I will really kill you.”
Under his rule, police and vigilante squads carried out thousands of killings. Duterte justified the bloodshed by claiming that it was necessary to protect Filipinos from drug-related crimes. He often mocked human rights concerns, saying, “I don’t care about human rights, believe me,” and once declared, “I’d be happy to slaughter them.”

“You harm the children in whose the hands the future of this republic is entrusted and I will hound you to the very gates of hell,” he said in 2017.
Despite mounting international pressure, including condemnations from the United Nations, the European Union, and human rights groups, Duterte remained defiant. He dismissed the ICC’s legitimacy, calling it “bullshit” and insisting he would rather go to jail than be judged by foreign courts.

What happens next?

Duterte’s legal team is expected to challenge the ICC’s jurisdiction, while his supporters, particularly in Davao, may protest his detention. Security forces have already been deployed to prevent potential unrest.