President arrested in Philippines massacre
- Update Time : Tuesday, March 11, 2025
- 1 Time View
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested. He was arrested at Manila’s main airport on Tuesday (March 11). The government said the move was in response to an Interpol arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
The ICC said Duterte had committed crimes against humanity in the name of his war on drugs. Thousands of Filipinos were killed under his watch. The investigation is ongoing.
Duterte said in Hong Kong on Monday that he was ready to be arrested under the ICC warrant. But he has always spoken in favor of the anti-drug campaign. He denied ordering police to kill drug suspects except in self-defense. He then returned to the Philippines. But he was arrested before he could leave the airport.
The office of current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said it had received an official copy of the warrant. Duterte is now in police custody. Duterte’s legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, said the arrest was illegal. Police did not allow a lawyer to meet Duterte at the airport.
