Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on Tuesday after a 12-hour standoff with police at Manila’s Villamor Air Base. The ex-president, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, refused to be fingerprinted and threatened law enforcement officials with lawsuits.
According to police Major General Nicolas Torre, Duterte told him that “you have to kill me to bring me to The Hague.” The ICC had issued a warrant for Duterte’s arrest due to allegations of human rights abuses during his presidency. Duterte’s lawyers claim that Philippine authorities did not show the ICC warrant and violated their client’s constitutional rights.
The standoff began after Duterte arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport with his family, including his common-law wife and daughter. He was initially planned to be taken into custody on a government-chartered jet bound for The Hague. However, his family, lawyers, and friends resisted, leading to the 12-hour confrontation.
Duterte’s arrest marks a significant shift in his fortunes, as he is now facing international justice for the first time. Human rights groups have celebrated this development, citing it as a major victory against state impunity. The former president’s lawyers will likely appeal the ICC warrant and challenge Duterte’s detention.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory