Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared his readiness to face arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his controversial anti-drug campaign.
Speaking at a rally in Hong Kong, Duterte addressed reports of a potential ICC arrest warrant linked to his administration’s crackdown on narcotics, which resulted in thousands of deaths.
“Assuming it’s true, why did I do it? For myself? For my family? For you and your children, and for our nation,” Duterte told the rally, justifying his anti-narcotics campaign.
He added, “If this is truly my fate in life, it’s okay, I will accept it. They can arrest me, imprison me.”
The former president appeared alongside his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, at Hong Kong’s Southorn Stadium, addressing thousands of Filipino workers.
The current Philippine administration, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has indicated readiness to comply with legal procedures if an ICC warrant is issued. Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro stated, “Our law enforcers are ready to follow what law dictates, if the warrant of arrest needs to be served because of a request from Interpol.”
Duterte’s visit to Hong Kong has raised questions about his intentions, as the city is not a party to the ICC. An elite Hong Kong police unit was observed near Duterte’s hotel, but local authorities have not commented on his presence.
During his presidency from 2016 to 2022, Duterte’s anti-drug campaign led to thousands of deaths, drawing international criticism and prompting the ICC to investigate alleged crimes against humanity. In 2019, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC’s founding treaty in response to the investigation.
Despite the withdrawal, the ICC maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the Philippines was a member. The current administration has signaled a willingness to cooperate with certain aspects of the ICC investigation, marking a shift from the previous stance of non-cooperation.
As of now, no official communication regarding an arrest warrant has been received, and Duterte is expected to return to Manila from Hong Kong on Tuesday, according to his former spokesperson.
