Former President Duterte arrested on ICC warrant

Former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, following an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity related to thousands of extrajudicial killings during his anti-drug campaign.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk hailed Duterte's arrest as an "important step toward seeking accountability" and commended the Philippine government for cooperating with the ICC.

Türk emphasized that the extremely serious charges against Duterte will now be addressed fairly and independently, in full accordance with the law.

The UN Human Rights Office noted that despite some steps by Philippine authorities, only a handful of cases have resulted in convictions, and the ICC proceedings now open a path towards addressing impunity at the highest levels.

Several international human rights groups, members of the House of Representatives, and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines welcomed the arrest as a crucial step toward accountability.

In Cebu, families of extrajudicial killing victims and Duterte supporters reacted differently, with some demanding full accountability and others rallying behind him.

Progressive groups and organizations of EJK victims called for justice, stating that Duterte's arrest alone is not enough for him to be held accountable for alleged killings during the war on drugs.