By The Straits Times | Created at 2025-03-10 01:25:32 | Updated at 2025-03-10 06:30:23
5 hours ago
MANILA – Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he’s ready to be jailed amid speculation that the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against him over his drug war.
“If that’s my fate, that’s fine I will accept it. We can’t do anything if I’m arrested or imprisoned,” he said before a crowd of Filipino supporters in Hong Kong on March 9, according to a video posted on Facebook by Philippine radio outfit Bombo Radyo.
Mr Duterte defended his drug war, that killed thousands of suspects, telling his audience that he did it for them and their children.
He ruled the South-east Asian nation from 2016 to 2022 and launched an anti-narcotics campaign that killed more than 6,000 people based on government data. Human rights groups estimated a higher death toll, mostly among the poor.
“We’ve heard that an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court against former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jay Ruiz told reporters on March 9. “The government is prepared for any eventuality.”
A possible arrest warrant would come at a time when the Duterte family’s feud with the camp of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has intensified.
Mr Duterte’s daughter, Vice-President Sara Duterte, was impeached by Mr Marcos’ congressional allies on charges she plotted to kill Mr Marcos and misused public funds – accusations she denies. Bloomberg
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