The arrest of former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was unlawful, as he had no legal representation at the time, his former lawyer and spokesman Salvador Panelo has claimed.
Panelo, who served as Duterte’s legal aide and spokesperson during his 2016–2022 presidency, stated that the Interpol arrest warrant was based on a “spurious source,” arguing that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction in the Philippines.
However, the ICC maintains that it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before the country withdrew from the tribunal.
Duterte was arrested today at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on an ICC warrant, making him the first former Philippine leader to be detained under an international tribunal’s order. Manila-based Rappler cited a high-ranking source confirming his custody, with a separate security source corroborating the arrest.
The former president faces a crimes against humanity case at the ICC over his controversial war on drugs, which human rights groups estimate resulted in nearly 30,000 deaths. Before his arrest, Interpol had issued a Red Notice following the ICC’s warrant.
Duterte had been in Hong Kong attending an event with overseas Filipino workers before returning to Manila. Speculation about an impending ICC warrant had been circulating before his trip.
Although President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration did not directly cooperate with the ICC, it upheld commitments to Interpol, leading to Duterte’s detention. The ICC’s request for his arrest was processed through Interpol, aligning with the Philippine government’s cooperation with the international police organisation.
Rappler reported that Duterte’s arrest is a major milestone in the ICC’s eight-year investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings during his tenure as president and as former Davao City mayor.
Duterte’s war on drugs was a cornerstone of his presidency, following a 2016 election campaign centred on crime-fighting and threats to kill narcotics dealers. Human rights groups allege that Philippine police and vigilantes acting under Duterte’s direction carried out large-scale extrajudicial killings of unarmed drug suspects—claims that authorities have denied.
While Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC, the current administration under Marcos has indicated he could still be handed over.
At least four other leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have active ICC warrants. However, unlike Duterte, they have yet to be detained.