Ex-Philippine President Duterte Detained Over ‘War On Drugs’

by Stefan Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

MANILA (Worthy News) – The Philippines’ former President Rodrigo Duterte has been detained after The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for his arrest for his “war on drugs,” according to footage seen by Worthy News.

The former leader, who will turn 80 this month, is accused by ICC prosecutors of crimes against humanity over his anti-drugs crackdowns, in which as many as 30,000 people were reportedly killed.

Most of the victims were men in poor, urban areas who were gunned down in the streets, according to investigators.

The president’s office said Duterte was arrested early Tuesday at Manila airport after flying back from Hong Kong. “Early in the morning, Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC,” the presidential palace said in a statement. “As of now, he is under the custody of authorities.”

A video uploaded by his daughter Veronica and obtained by Worthy News shows Duterte sitting in what appeared to be the Villamor Air Base after he landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Hong Kong.

“What is the law, and what is the crime that I committed? Explain to me now the legal basis for my being here as apparently I was brought here not of my own volition. It’s somebody else’s,” the former president asked those questioning him.

‘DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY’

“You have to answer now for the deprivation of liberty… Have you read the case at the time you made the arrest so that you should be guided on what you should know?” Duterte demanded.

Earlier, before departing Hong Kong, Duterte said that there was no need for thousands of police to gather at the NAIA as he could simply submit himself to arresting authorities.

Duterte became president in 2016 after promising a merciless, bloody crackdown that would rid the country of drugs.

During his election campaign, he once said there would be so many bodies dumped in Manila Bay that fish would grow fat from feeding on them. After taking office, he publicly threatened to kill suspected drug dealers and urged the public to kill people with an addiction.

Since his election, between 12,000 and 30,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed in connection with anti-drug operations, according to data cited by the ICC.

Even as his crackdowns provoked global horror, he remained highly popular at home throughout his presidency. His daughter, Sara Duterte, is the current vice president.

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