The Philippine National Police have arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte as part of an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into allegations of crimes against humanity during his tenure as Manila's top official.
During his time in office, Duterte presided over a sweeping and brutal crackdown on drugs that killed more than 6,000 people, according to police records, although independent monitors believe the number of extrajudicial killings could be much higher.
Duterte, 79, was arrested amid chaotic scenes at the main airport in the capital Manila after returning to the Philippines from Hong Kong on Tuesday.
He has not apologized for his brutal crackdown on drugs, which saw thousands of people killed when he was president of the Southeast Asian nation from 2016 to 2022, and mayor of Davao City before that, writes A2 CNN.
After his arrest, he questioned the basis for the arrest warrant, asking, "What crime have I committed?"
Duterte's former presidential spokesman, Salvador Panelo, has criticized the arrest, calling it "illegal" after the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019.
The ICC previously said it has jurisdiction in the Philippines over alleged crimes committed before the country withdrew as a member. (A2 Televizion)
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