Ex-Philippines leader sent to ICC over drug war deaths

Rodrigo Duterte, accused of nearly 4,000 executions while in power, is flown to The Hague for trial after arrest in Manila

- ALASTAIR JAMIESON, SHWETA SHARMA

Former Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte was on his way to the The Hague last night, hours after being arrested at the request of the International Criminal Court as part of its probe into a “war on drugs” that defined his presidency. The 79-yearold strongman and former prosecutor, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, could become the first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the ICC.

His arrest marks the biggest step yet in the ICC’s probe into alleged crimes against humanity during an anti-drugs crackdown that killed thousands and drew condemnation around the world. It is alleged his administration oversaw the executions of around 4,000 people during anti-drug operations in the country. Most of those killed were poor Filipinos living in urban areas. Human rights groups have long said that the actual number of dead could be far higher.

“The plane is en route to the Hague, in the Netherlands, allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs,” Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told a press conference. “We did not help the International Criminal Court in any way. The arrest was made in compliance with Interpol.”