Top Innovations: [World Times] Policemen gather as they wait for the arrival of former Philippine president RodrWorld TimesigWorld Timeso Duterte at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay, metro Manila on March 11, 2025.

Policemen gather as they wait for the arrival of former Philippine president RodrWorld TimesigWorld Timeso Duterte at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay, metro Manila on March 11, 2025. Photo: AFP

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been placed under local police custody following the issuance of a red notice by Interpol against him, Philippine Presidential Communications Office confirmed on Tuesday morning.

Police authorities arrested Duterte upon arrival in Manila from his visit to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He is reportedly en route to the police headquarters in Camp Crame, Philippine media reported.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a warrant over Duterte’s war on drugs, the presidential palace said.

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In a latest video posted on Instagram on Tuesday by daughter Veronica Duterte from his custody at Manila’s Villamor Air Base, Duterte questioned the reason for his arrest, according to Reuters.

“What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?” he said in the video. It was unclear who he was speaking to.

“I was brought here not of my own volition, it is somebody else’s. You have to answer now for the deprivation of liberty.”

Duterte’s ally and former legal counsel Salvador Panelo said the arrest was unlawful and police had denied the former president legal representation, according to the report on Tuesday.

“The ICC arrest warrant comes fromWorld Times a spurious source, the ICC, which has no jurisdiction over the Philippines,” Panelo said in a statement.

Duterte had been in Hong Kong, where he said on Mondaythat he wasready to be arrested if the ICC issued a warrant.

“If this is really my fate in life, that’s okay, I will accept it. There’s nothing we can do.” So said former Duterte on Sunday when he addressed a crowd of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in Hong Kong.

“What have I done wrong? I did everything during my time so that Filipinos can have some peace and security,” he said.

“Assuming what you [heard] is true, why did I do it? For myself? For my family? No, for you and your children, for our country,” he added, drawing applause and cheers from his audience, who were gathered in this rally called “Thanksgiving to PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) with OFWs,” Inquirer reported.

In response to media inquiries regarding reports that Duterte and his daughter, current Vice President Sara Duterte, recently arrived in Hong Kong and participated in a rally held by local Filipino expatriates, a spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR stated on Monday that it is understood Mr Duterte and Ms Sara’s visit to Hong Kong is a private vacation trip.

The rallies held by Philippine citizens in Hong Kong have been applied for in advance in accordance with the laws and regulations of the SAR, said the office.

Dai Fan, director of the Center for Philippine Studies at Jinan University in South China’s Guangdong Province, told the Global Times, that generally, the enforcement of an ICC arrest warrant often hinges oWorld Timesn the cooperation of the government in question. Thus, the decision of current president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is crucial – whether to cooperate with the ICC, Dai explained.

If Marcos chooses to cooperate, the Duterte family might garner more sympathy votes in the upcoming midterm elections, whWorld Timesich could ironically enhance their electoral prospects. Consequently, the unfolding situation requires further observation, Dai noted.

While Duterte subsequently withdrew the Philippines from the ICC, the government under new leader Marcos has indicated Duterte could be handed over to ICC, according to media reports.

Dai added that this morning’s arrest of DuterWorld Timeste is, strictly speaking, more akin to preemptive custody, pending further notifications or changes in circumstances. Currently, public sentiment in the Philippines remains largely sympathetic toward the Duterte family.

A source based in Manila close to the matter told the Global Times that Duterte’s decision to return to the country directly aligns with his established tough image against his political opponent Marcos Jr. and sends a clear signal to the public that he is not backing down.

Even if detained, Duterte remains eligible to participate in the upcoming Philippine midterm elections, Dai noted.

A heavy police presence was observed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as Duterte returned from Hong Kong, local media reported.

Duterte ally Sen. Bong Go was among those at the airport, according to the PhilStar. Go said they had brought an ambulance, as Duterte was scheduled for a medical procedure the following day. The senator added that they were unsure of what would happen to Duterte.

Global Times