READ: The International Criminal Court's warrant of arrest for Rodrigo Duterte
Ex-president Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested for his alleged crimes against humanity over his bloody war on drugs following a warrant from the International Criminal Court.
Duterte was immediately taken into police custody upon his arrival from Hong Kong on March 11.
The Prosecution applied for an arrest warrant for Duterte on Feb. 10 over crimes against humanity committed in the Philippines within Nov. 11, 2011 and March 16, 2019.
The warrant, obtained by The Philippine STAR, stated that he was being arrested for murder, torture, and rape—which is part of the 15 forms of crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute—that happened in his drug war.
The ICC said it has "reasonable grounds" to believe Duterte committed a crime within its jurisdiction.
"Considering that the Davao Death Squad members and the Philippines' law enforcement personnel targeted a very large number of persons allegedly involved in criminal activities, in particular drug-related ones, the Chamber finds that there was a course of conduct involving the commission of multiple acts against the civilian population," it stated.
The Hague-based tribunal added that an "attack" directed at civilians pursuant to policies while Duterte was head of the DDS and as president took place.
It also alleged that torture and rape were committed as part of his war on drugs.
Duterte's crimes also include various forms of criminal activities, including DDS members killing at least 19 persons who were allegedly drug pushers or thieves and killing at least 24 alleged criminals under the supervision of members of law enforcement.
"As the founder and head of the DDS, and, later, the head of the State of the Philippines, Mr. Duterte, jointly with high-ranking government officials and members of the police force (the 'co-perpetrators') and through other persons, agreed to 'neutralize' individuals they identified as alleged individuals with criminal propensities, including but not limited to drug offenders."
The ICC also explained that Duterte's arrest was necessary to ensure his appearance before the court.
Duterte questions his arrest
While at Villamor Air Base, Duterte questioned his arrest in an Instagram story by his daughter Kitty Duterte.
"What is the law and what is the crime I committed?" he said. "Assure to me now the legal basis for my being here. I was brought here not of my own volition, but somebody else's...You have to answer now for the deprivation of [my] liberty."
Former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said the Philippine National Police did not allow Duterte's lawyers to meet him at the airport. They also "could not" have a hard copy of the arrest warrant.
Under ICC's jurisdiction
Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019 after the tribunal began probing allegations of human rights abuses committed in his war on drugs.
The arrest warrant states that the alleged crimes in the case took place between Nov. 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019 while the Philippines was still a member.
According to the ICC, crimes against humanity are serious violations committed as part of a large-scale attack against any civilian population. The 15 forms of crimes against humanity listed in the Rome Statute include offences such as murder, rape, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, enslavement (particularly of women and children), sexual slavery, torture, apartheid and deportation.
The tribunal also has jurisdiction to prosecute crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes of aggression.
Based on the government's "Real Numbers" data, a total of 6,229 individuals were killed during anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016, to Jan. 31, 2022.
Rights groups, however, estimated that the number of deaths from the bloody anti-narcotics campaign reached as high as 27,000.
Read the full arrest warrant below.
