Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Arrested on Mass Murder Charges

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested on charges of crimes against humanity, drawing international scrutiny. On March 11, 2025, Duterte was detained at Manila airport and swiftly extradited to the Netherlands, where he is now held at the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention center in Scheveningen, awaiting trial.

The charges stem from Duterte’s controversial “war on drugs,” a brutal campaign initiated during his presidency from 2016 to 2022. Duterte has openly admitted to targeting the physical elimination of criminals, including rapists, drug dealers, and robbers, asserting that murders occurred almost daily under his watch.

The arrest followed a lengthy ICC investigation that began in 2018 but had made little progress until a rift emerged between two powerful political families in the Philippines: the Dutertes and the Marcoses. Analysts suggest that this conflict has diminished Duterte’s political influence and stripped him of the protections he previously enjoyed against international prosecution. Current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who assumed office in 2022, has distanced himself from Duterte’s policies, which likely influenced the decision to extradite the former leader to The Hague.

Human rights organizations report that the anti-drug campaign has resulted in the deaths of between 12 and 30 individuals, encompassing both suspects and innocent victims. The Philippine police and notorious “death squads” operated with apparent government approval, prompting fierce criticism from the United Nations and Western nations. Despite this, Duterte has defended his actions, insisting they were essential for combating crime and consistently denying allegations of systematic human rights violations.