Police arrest Duterte on Interpol red notice
Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte shows up at 11th Quad Committee hearing at the House of Representatives on November 11, 2024. Photo from House of Representatives Press and Public Affairs Bureau
By: Manuel Mogato | Published: March 11, 2025
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Manila – The Philippine National Police (PNP) took custody of former President Rodrigo Duterte upon his arrival from Hong Kong at the Manila International Airport, based on a request from the International Police (Interpol).
In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Interpol sent a request on March 11.at dawn, requesting help from Philippine authorities to arrest Duterte based on an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Duterte was facing an investigation before the ICC for crimes against humanity when he was in power for six years.
Human rights advocates said about 30,000 people died in Duterte’s war on drugs policy from 2016 to 2022. However, the Philippine National Police admitted killing more than 7,000 in legitimate drug war operations, claiming self-defense.
The ICC was also looking at drug war killings from 2011 to 2016 in Davao City, where he was mayor.
The ICC has jurisdiction over the killings in the Philippines from 2011 to 2019 when Manila was still part of the Rome Statute. The Philippines left the ICC in 2019.
Duterte flew to Hong Kong last week to attend a political rally for his nine senatorial candidates during the weekend.
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There were already rumors that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against Duterte and his trip to Hong Kong was a cover to escape an imminent arrest.
But he returned on Tuesday morning after the president’s office said it had not received a copy of an ICC warrant and a red notice from the Interpol.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s administration said it would not cooperate with the ICC but would comply with a request from Interpol because the government is a member state.
Last year, it was able to arrest a Chinese national who fled the country to Indonesia with Interpol’s assistance.
Authorities said they would expedite the extradition process and send Duterte to The Hague to face investigation before the ICC.
Lawmakers who had investigated the killings rejoiced on news that Duterte was arrested at the airport.
Former senator Leila de Lima who was jailed for seven years on trumped up drug charges under Duterte said “justice is finally taking its course”.
“This is not vengeance,” she added.
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