Former President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 after his return from Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 11, due to the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged crimes against humanity during his administration’s “war on drugs.”

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) confirmed Duterte’s arrest, stating that the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) Manila received the official copy of the ICC’s arrest warrant on Tuesday morning. 

Upon Duterte’s arrival, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon served the ICC notification confirming the arrest warrant issued against the former president.

“Sa kanyang pagdating, inihain ng Prosecutor General ang ICC notification para sa isang arrest warrant sa dating pangulo para sa krimen laban sa sangkatauhan,” the PCO stated.

The PCO also reported that the former president is in good health and that the PNP officers who enforced the warrant were equipped with body cameras.

Prior to his arrest, the ICC had already been investigating the deaths of Duterte’s “war on drugs,” where thousands of people were killed. Human rights groups estimate that over 20,000 people were killed during Duterte’s presidency, from 2016 to 2022.

Duterte’s arrest was considered a step to attain justice for the victims of the extrajudicial killings (EJKs), according to the members of the People’s Impeachment Movement (PIM).

“Ang pagpapalabas ng arrest warrant ng ICC laban kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ay importante at napakalaking hakbang tungo sa pagbibigay ng hustisya para sa libu-libong biktima ng EJKs na dulot ng kanyang madugong giyera kontra iligal na droga," Catholic priest Flaviano Villanueva said, a member of PIM and the head of Program Paghilom—a program that helps the victims of EJKs.

Members of the PIM stated that Duterte’s arrest is what the victims of the EJKs have been waiting for. They consider it an answered prayer, asking for justice for their families who have been killed during the drug war.

Duterte’s supporters, however, argue that Duterte’s arrest is an injustice and a political move against him.

“We, the Filipino people, must stand united against this injustice. We must demand accountability from our leaders, transparency in government operations, and an end to the political maneuvering that diverts attention from the urgent need to address poverty and corruption. Let our voices rise in unison, demanding sanity and justice from the BBM administration. The time for silence is over; the time for action is now,” Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod stated.