Ex-President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has been detained over an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for crimes against humanity. This is a major milestone in the quest for accountability for human rights violations during Duterte’s presidency.
The term of Duterte’s presidency was tarnished by scandals, especially for his government’s “war against drugs,” killing thousands of individuals. The ICC warrant accuses Duterte’s policies and actions of instigating vast human rights abuses such as forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
The arrest of Duterte is regarded as a huge win for human rights supporters and victims’ families who have been clamoring for justice for decades. Nevertheless, it also generates fear regarding the possibility of political unrest and reprisals from Duterte’s fans.
The ICC probe into Duterte’s regime is still ongoing, and it is yet to be known what the outcome will be. But one thing is for sure: the arrest of Duterte is a major move towards accountability and justice for victims of human rights violations in the Philippines.