11-3-2025 (MANILA)Â Rodrigo Duterte, the controversial former leader of the Philippines, was taken into custody in Manila on 10 March following the execution of an International Criminal Court warrant. The arrest stems from his notorious anti-narcotics campaign that cast a long shadow over his 2016-2022 presidency.
Before ascending to the nation’s highest office, Duterte earned the moniker “the punisher” whilst serving as mayor of Davao, where his stern approach to law enforcement first drew attention. His presidential campaign resonated with voters through unvarnished rhetoric and stark promises regarding drug-related crime, pledging to replicate his municipal methods on a national scale.
The implementation of his signature policy was swift and decisive. Within six months of his June 2016 inauguration, law enforcement operations had resulted in over 2,000 fatalities, predominantly classified as armed confrontations. Despite mounting casualties, Duterte maintained remarkable public support, with polling data from Social Weather Stations indicating a 77% satisfaction rating by year’s end.
However, beneath the official narrative lay troubling inconsistencies. Human rights organisations uncovered evidence suggesting state-sanctioned vigilante activity, whilst subsequent investigations revealed discrepancies between reported causes of death and post-mortem findings. In one particularly stark case, an examination revealed cranial gunshot trauma in remains officially attributed to pneumonia.
The government’s acknowledgement of 6,248 deaths stands in stark contrast to activists’ assessments, which suggest significantly higher casualties, particularly among impoverished urban communities. Many victims had featured on official surveillance lists prior to their deaths.
The international community took notice. The ICC launched preliminary inquiries in 2018, prompting Duterte’s withdrawal from the court’s jurisdiction. Though temporarily suspended in 2021 following Philippine claims of judicial self-sufficiency, the investigation resumed in 2023 after these assertions were deemed inadequate.
The current administration under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, whilst initially resistant to ICC involvement, signalled a potential shift in late 2024 by expressing willingness to honour arrest warrants. This stance was reinforced by the justice minister’s indication of openness to collaboration with the international tribunal.
