He was taken into custody under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court
The International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has welcomed the arrest of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, calling it a crucial step toward justice for the victims of his controversial "war on drugs" campaign.
Duterte was taken into custody in Manila on March 11 under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and transferred to The Hague in Netherlands.
IBAHRI, which has long advocated for accountability in the Philippines, hailed Duterte's arrest as a milestone for international justice. "Duterte always believed himself untouchable – until he wasn't," said IBAHRI co-chair Mark Stephens. "At 79, he now faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. The fair and independent ICC will assess the extremely serious charges against him, in full accordance with the law and his right to a fair trial."
Duterte is expected to make his initial appearance before the ICC in the coming days, where he will face charges of crimes against humanity, specifically murder. These allegations stemmed from extrajudicial killings that took place between 2011 and 2019 when the Philippines was still a state party to the ICC's Rome Statute.
In June 2024, IBAHRI participated in an international fact-finding mission investigating extrajudicial killings and other serious human rights violations in the Philippines. The organization collaborated with victims, legal representatives, and Filipino institutions to gather evidence, highlighting systemic issues that allowed such crimes to continue with impunity.
Hina Jilani, IBAHRI co-chair, emphasised that Duterte's arrest is just the beginning. "This should raise alarm bells for all authoritarian leaders sitting on their thrones, thinking they are above the law. They are not. International justice may be a long and winding road, but eventually, it reaches its destination," Jilani said.
IBAHRI urged the Philippine government, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to fully cooperate with the ICC and consider rejoining the Rome Statute. Jilani called on Marcos to repeal laws that enabled human rights abuses and to strengthen domestic accountability mechanisms.
IBAHRI council member and former Philippine congressman Neri Javier Colmenares, who has represented families of drug war victims at the ICC, described Duterte's arrest as "a significant milestone that gives hope to the thousands of families who lost their loved ones during his brutal reign." He also called for further action against other officials involved in the deadly campaign.
