# Arrest of Rodrigo Duterte

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On March 11, 2025, former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the Philippine National Police and Interpol under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant charging him with crimes against humanity related to the Philippine drug war. Duterte arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila on March 11 after attending a political rally in Hong Kong. Once the warrant was executed, he was transferred to Villamor Air Base and transported to the Netherlands, where he is expected to face trial in The Hague.
Duterte was indicted on charges of crimes against humanity, which include extrajudicial killings during his tenure as Mayor of Davao City and as President of the Philippines, until the country's withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019. He is the fifth Philippine president to be indicted and arrested, following Emilio Aguinaldo (1901, 1945), Jose P. Laurel (1945), Joseph Estrada (2001), and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2011). He is also the first Philippine president to face an international tribunal and the first leader from Asia to face trial before the ICC.
Duterte was arrested amid an escalating feud between the Marcos and Duterte political families, sparking allegations of ulterior motives, which President Bongbong Marcos denies. Analysts have described Duterte's arrest as a victory for the Marcos faction in their power struggle.

## Background
### Launch of the ICC investigation

Rodrigo Duterte was investigated by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity. The investigation covered Duterte's links to the Davao Death Squad, which is estimated to have killed at least a thousand people since the 1990s, as well as reports of extrajudicial killings of alleged drug dealers and users during his presidency, limited to the period before the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019.
In 2017, Filipino lawyer Jude Sabio submitted a 77-page document to the ICC titled "The Situation of Mass Murder in the Philippines", accusing President Duterte and 11 other officials of mass murder and crimes against humanity. Similarly, then-senator Antonio Trillanes and members of the Magdalo Party-List, led by then-representative Gary Alejano, filed a 45-page supplemental complaint requesting charges of crimes against humanity, supporting Sabio's earlier filing.
The ICC's jurisdiction in the Philippines applies only to the period when the country was a state party to the Rome Statute (November 1, 2011 – March 16, 2019). This includes nearly three years of Duterte's presidency, during which the Philippine drug war was at its peak. The Supreme Court of the Philippines, in a 2021 ruling, commented on the withdrawal from the Rome Statute and stated that the Philippines still has an obligation to cooperate in the ICC proceedings.

### Climate during the Bongbong Marcos presidency

Under President Bongbong Marcos's administration, the government maintained its stance of non-cooperation with the ICC investigation. However, by 2024, it acknowledged that it could not prevent investigators from acting independently. In November 2024, the Philippine government reaffirmed its stance on the ICC but stated that it would surrender Duterte if he were indicted, citing its obligation to Interpol.

## Events
### Issuance of warrant

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I issued a warrant on March 7, 2025, at The Hague, with Judges Iulia Motoc, Reine Alapini-Gansou, and Socorro Flores Liera presiding. The ICC reached out to Interpol for the execution of the warrant. While rumors suggested that a warrant was imminent as Duterte flew to Hong Kong a few days prior, its legal existence was not immediately disclosed to the public. The document was reclassified from "secret" to "public" on March 11. The Presidential Communications Office confirmed the warrant in a press release hours after its execution.
In a press conference shortly after the plane bound for the Netherlands departed, President Bongbong Marcos stated the warrant had been sent to the Office of the President of the Philippines via the Interpol Manila office at around 03:00 PHT (UTC+08:00) on March 11, 2025. He added that authorities proceeded with serving the warrant in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP). He emphasized that the PNP enforced the warrant in coordination with Interpol, not the ICC, of which the Philippines was formerly a member.

### Hong Kong PDP rally and prelude to arrest

On the morning of March 7, Rodrigo Duterte flew to Hong Kong with his common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña; their daughter, Veronica "Kitty" Duterte; their adoptive daughter, Mira; his former executive secretary, Salvador Medialdea; and his entourage. They had initially traveled from Davao City to Manila the previous evening. His eldest daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, flew to Hong Kong later on to join him.
On March 8, the Hong Kong-based newspaper The Standard first reported Duterte's presence in the city after he was spotted in Causeway Bay with his entourage, amid circulating rumors that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant for him. Salvador Panelo, Duterte's former presidential legal counsel, stated that his trip was solely to thank supporters in Hong Kong at a Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) campaign sortie. He added that he would join Duterte the following day. The Philippine government did not confirm at the time whether the ICC had issued an arrest warrant but stated, "If Interpol will ask the necessary assistance from the government, it is obliged to follow" and that "the government is prepared in any eventuality".
On March 9, Duterte attended a PDP campaign sortie organized by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) at the Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai, where he promoted his party's slate of senatorial candidates. Others who attended the sortie include Vice President Sara Duterte and Senators Bong Go and Robin Padilla, as well as senatorial candidates Vic Rodriguez, Raul Lambino, Rodante Marcoleta, Jimmy Bondoc, and Phillip Salvador. Senator Ronald dela Rosa was expected to attend but was unable to, while a standee for jailed pastor and KOJC founder Apollo Quiboloy, a senatorial candidate, was displayed on the campaign stage. In his speech, Duterte acknowledged the rumored arrest warrant, expressing both defiance toward the ICC and readiness to face arrest. Jokingly, he added that the crowd could contribute "$5 or $10" each to fund a monument of himself beside a José Rizal statue in Davao City.
From March 10 to the morning of March 11, hundreds of police officers were deployed at Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City, the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, and Metro Manila. The Manila Times reported that this was in preparation for the possible arrest of a high-profile but unidentified individual, widely speculated to be Duterte, who was set to return to the Philippines from Hong Kong.
Rumors circulated that Duterte had sought political asylum in China. However, Sara Duterte stated that her father had not been in contact with Chinese officials during his stay.

### Arrest

On March 11, more than 300 police officers, led by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rommel Marbil and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Nicolas Torre, were deployed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in anticipation of Duterte's arrival from Hong Kong. At 09:20 PHT (UTC+08:00), Duterte arrived at NAIA on Cathay Pacific Flight 907. Retired general Anthony Alcantara, executive director of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crimes (PCTC), met Duterte on the plane and escorted him to the jet bridge. There, Alcantara and Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor general Richard Fadullon informed him of the ICC-issued warrant and arrested him with the support of PNP officers. The reading of Miranda rights was postponed at the request of Duterte's party, which insisted that they be read only in a more secure location. Lawyers Salvador Medialdea and his wife, Maria Bertola "Betty" D. Medialdea, both former cabinet officials during Duterte's presidency, were present during his arrest. Duterte's daughter, Kitty, livestreamed his arrest, while his common-law wife, Avanceña, tried to dissuade him from complying with police authorities, calling them "abusive" and claiming they had no warrant.
Aside from the Medialdeas, Duterte's other lawyers, aides, and doctors were prevented from approaching him when he was taken into police custody. Senator Go, who arrived separately from Duterte, and lawyer Silvestre Bello III informed the media at the airport about Duterte's detention and separation from his aides. Go stated that police denied his request to see Duterte despite his claim that an ambulance was already waiting for Duterte's planned medical checkup. Most of the police officers escorting Duterte out of the airport were women, per a request from Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who anticipated potential outbursts from Duterte against male officers.
The PNP later placed its regional units and national support on heightened alert, starting March 11, in anticipation of potential protests and civil disturbances following Duterte's arrest.

### Detention and transfer to The Hague

Following his arrest, Duterte was taken to Villamor Air Base, where he and his family were housed in Maharlika Hall within the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing, joined by the Medialdea couple and lawyer Martin Delgra. During his detention, Duterte was allowed to sleep in a room next to the hall. Torre read Duterte his Miranda rights and presented an electronic copy of the arrest warrant. Despite Torre's repeated insistence, Duterte refused to comply with the booking procedure. Senator Go arrived at Villamor with former government officials Bello, Lorraine Badoy-Partosa, and Trixie Cruz-Angeles, but was denied entry to the air base.
Duterte's standoff with PNP officials over his refusal to leave for The Hague in the Netherlands lasted approximately 12 hours. During an attempt to separate Duterte from his family, his daughter Kitty tried to push through a group of police officers to reach his room. Avanceña then struck a SAF officer on the head with her smartphone, allegedly in response to being separated from her daughter. The SAF officer was later hospitalized but soon recovered. Towards the end of the standoff, Duterte's legal counsel, Salvador Medialdea, attempted to block the PNP from escorting Duterte to a coaster bound for a jet headed to the Netherlands at Villamor. When Medialdea challenged Torre to detain him, Torre briefly handcuffed him for obstruction of justice and read him his Miranda rights. Medialdea soon acquiesced, and Torre later claimed that this action convinced Duterte to board the coaster to the jet.
In later interviews, Torre stated that the PNP accommodated nearly all of Duterte's requests, including food, medicine, and legal counsel, except for his request not to be taken to The Hague. According to Torre and PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo, the PNP exercised "maximum tolerance" throughout Duterte's arrest and detention, prohibiting officers from making physical contact with him and instructing them not to retaliate against any verbal or physical assault from his party.
After a delay of a few hours due to revisions in the manifest (Avanceña declined to join Duterte, allegedly citing a lack of a passport despite having traveled to Hong Kong with him), a government-chartered Gulfstream G550 jet departed Manila at 23:03 PHT (UTC+08:00) carrying Duterte, his legal counsel Medialdea, and his party. The jet, leased from the Office of the President of the Philippines, made a layover at Al Maktoum International Airport in the United Arab Emirates before landing at Rotterdam The Hague Airport in the Netherlands at 4:54 p.m. local time the next day.
Duterte appeared via videolink before the ICC for the first time on March 14, during which he was informed of the charges against him. He is set to be arraigned in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity at the ICC and will remain in custody at the ICC section of the United Nations Detention Unit while awaiting trial. The confirmation of charges is scheduled for September 23, 2025.

## Protests and mass actions

Widespread protests and mass actions, both in support of and against Duterte, were held across the Philippines following his arrest, especially in Mindanao and the Visayas.

### Pro-Duterte protests

Shortly after Duterte's arrest was announced, people gathered outside the gates of Villamor Air Base in Pasay, where he was detained, to protest his arrest and criticize the government. In Manila, nearly 1,000 supporters gathered at Liwasang Bonifacio in support of Duterte on March 15, while a motorcade was held in different parts of Metro Manila. Another motorcade rally from different parts of the metro was held on March 16. Other cities in Luzon that held demonstrations include Angeles City and Baguio.
In Duterte's hometown, Davao City, hundreds of Duterte's supporters, including city and barangay officials, held a candlelight rally at Rizal Park. Thousands of Davao residents rallied for Duterte during the cityhood festivities on March 16. In Iligan, hundreds of protesters gathered along Roxas and Quezon Avenues, with former Iligan mayor Franklin Quijano and lawyer Manuel Salibay urging Iliganons to call for Duterte's release. In Cotabato City, an estimated 4,000 supporters staged a unity walk in the city's plaza and held a prayer rally. Prayer rallies were held in General Santos and Kidapawan. Hundreds more assembled across Mindanao, including in the cities of Bansalan, Bislig, Bongao, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Digos, Isulan, Jolo, Koronadal, Marawi (Ground Zero), Midsayap, Pagadian, Panabo, Tacurong, Tagum, and Zamboanga City, and in the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.
In the Visayas, supporters in Cebu City, Iloilo City, and Mandaue protested. A motorcade rally was held in Kalibo on March 16.
Many protesters at these rallies sang Filipino patriotic songs and "Try That in a Small Town" by American singer Jason Aldean, an anthem for Diehard Duterte Supporters.
Across various online platforms and among Overseas Filipino Workers, calls have emerged for Duterte's return to the Philippines.

### Anti-Duterte protests

Various progressive groups, led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and relatives of victims of reported extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration, staged a protest at the Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City on the afternoon of Duterte's arrest, calling for his imprisonment.
The trade union federation Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) led an anti-Duterte peace caravan in General Santos on March 16. The demonstration called for accountability, justice, and the protection of human rights for marginalized fisherfolk, who suffered during the Duterte administration.
A mass in honor of the drug war victims was celebrated at Cubao Cathedral in Quezon City by Program Paghilom, a human rights organization that supports the families of victims.

## Reactions
### Former Duterte administration officials and allies

Salvador Panelo, the former chief presidential legal counsel and presidential spokesperson of Rodrigo Duterte, lambasted Duterte's arrest as unlawful, stating that the Philippines was no longer a member of the ICC. The Supreme Court, to which he is answerable as an "officer of the court", had previously ruled that the country remained obliged to cooperate with the ICC regarding events leading up to its withdrawal.
Duterte's daughter, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, criticized the Philippine government while announcing that her father would be flown to the International Criminal Court. In her statement, she considered her father's detention to be "a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino who believes in our nation's independence". While on a flight to the Netherlands on March 12, she changed her profile pictures on Facebook and X to a digital red ribbon containing the text "BRING PRRD HOME ✊🏼". Duterte's son and Davao City mayor Sebastian Duterte alleged on Facebook that his father was being denied medical care while in custody and that the government was trying to get him to board a plane without disclosing the destination. The Philippine government maintained that Duterte was in good condition.
On March 14, 2025, Sara Duterte publicly disclosed that she would not return to the Philippines for an unspecified period, stating that she would focus on forming her father's legal team. The next day, Sara stated that she would not return to her country until another family relative arrived in the Netherlands. This relative would have to also ensure that her father will not be left alone.
Sebastian Duterte has alleged that search warrants have been issued for the residences of his father and other members of the Duterte family, which the PNP has denied. In a statement in the Netherlands on March 16, Sara Duterte stated that she expected evidence against her family to be planted during a police search.

### Philippine government officials

President Bongbong Marcos denied allegations that Duterte's arrest was "political persecution", stating that the case was initiated in 2017 while Duterte was president.
Senate President Francis Escudero urged due process from the ICC and called for restraint, warning against using Duterte's arrest for political gain ahead of the 2025 election.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada emphasized national unity, urging Filipinos to remain calm and avoid misinformation or violence. He noted that Duterte, as a lawyer, knows the legal steps to take.
Senator Imee Marcos, the incumbent president's sister, criticized the political divisions, saying Duterte's arrest only creates "chaos" and questioning whether it benefits ordinary Filipinos. She also expressed sympathy, noting his age. Senator Marcos, who is seeking re-election, skipped an Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign rally in Tacloban to protest Duterte's arrest.

### Philippine opposition

Opposition leader and former Senator Leila de Lima, who was previously imprisoned and later acquitted on drug charges by the Duterte administration, welcomed the arrest of Duterte. She also stated, "...I stood before the courts because I had nothing to hide. Duterte now has to answer for his actions, not in the court of public opinion but before the rule of law." During a press conference in Naga City on March 16, De Lima, who is running as first nominee of Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list, appeared with former Vice President Leni Robredo. According to Robredo, she cannot help but compare Duterte's situation with De Lima's seven-year imprisonment over trumped-up drug charges that were later dropped. Robredo added that “Duterte has access to a computer, his living conditions are okay, he can freely roam around, he has conjugal and family visits. This was not the case for Senator Leila. Her room was so small, so hot, there was no air conditioning. She did not have access to a computer even though she was working as a senator at the time.”
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a prominent Duterte critic, stated that the arrest of Duterte was "the first step toward achieving justice for the thousands who were killed" and called on Duterte to "purify his soul". Along with members of the Magdalo Party-List, Trillanes filed a criminal complaint against Duterte at the ICC in 2017.
In the House of Representatives, party-list lawmakers lauded the arrest, with GABRIELA Representative Arlene Brosas saying the arrest "offers a glimpse of hope for the families who, until now, continue to search for the justice that has remained so elusive". House Minority Leader France Castro of ACT Teachers said that the arrest was "a concrete step towards accountability and justice for the countless victims of his bloody regime. This should serve as a reminder that those responsible for human rights abuses must face the consequences of their actions." Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña said Duterte's "day of reckoning has come".
Labor leader Luke Espiritu of Partido Lakas ng Masa expressed concern about the possibility of not completing the process of seeking justice for Duterte's actions. Espiritu added that “We have become a nation of psychopaths and criminal-minded people. That’s what Duterte did. He really destroyed our values and our nation so much that he needs to be punished. His arrest is just.”

### Human rights advocates

The arrest was received positively by the surviving family members of the victims. Neri Colmenares, who serves as counsel for the victims, noted that the arrest is a welcome development that "sends a powerful message" and is an important step toward justice for the victims. Kristina Conti, who serves as assistant to counsel at the ICC, hoped that the arrest of Duterte would lead to a trial.
Chel Diokno of Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) said that “For decades, Duterte thought himself untouchable. But history catches up with even the most ruthless despots”. According to Diokno, an official report listed 20,322 drug-related deaths, of which 3,967 were caused by law enforcement operations and 16,355 were the result of vigilantism.
Agnès Callamard, the secretary general of Amnesty International, called the arrest of Duterte "a monumental step for justice". Callamard previously served as Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions under the United Nations Human Rights Council, which included their own investigations in the Philippines. Callamard was previously barred from visiting the Philippines in her previous capacity as Special Rapporteur by the Duterte administration.

### Religious community

In a press statement released by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the organization called the arrest of Duterte "a crucial step toward accountability" and said it "sets an important precedent for addressing past and future human rights violations in the Philippines".

### International

* China – On March 11, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the ICC "should strictly follow the principle of complementarity, exercise its functions and powers prudently in accordance with the law and prevent politicization or double standards".
* United Nations – At a press conference, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani stated that they have "long documented the severe human rights impacts of the so-called war on drugs in the Philippines".