Former president Rodrigo Duterte was placed under custody upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Tuesday, March 11, following a “red notice” from the Interpol, making him the first Philippine head of state detained under an international tribunal’s order.
Prior to his arrest, the ICC issued a warrant for his detention, and the Interpol placed him on a red notice alert. According to legal experts, a red notice is not an international arrest warrant but a request for provisional detention pending extradition and other legal processes.
Duterte, who arrived from Hong Kong, faces charges of crimes against humanity related to his controversial war on drugs, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of nearly 30,000 people, according to human rights organizations.
At NAIA, heightened police presence preceded Duterte’s arrival. Personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) were seen at the airport, along with Department of Justice undersecretary Nicholas Ty and Prosecutor General Anthony Fadullon. Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Nicholas Torre III was also on-site.
Reports indicate that Duterte, escorted by CIDG members, was taken via the tarmac after arriving at the airport. He was later transported to Villamor Air Base, as confirmed by Duterte’s former aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. However, Go noted that he had not seen the actual arrest warrant.
The ICC’s case against Duterte stems from its investigation into thousands of extrajudicial killings during his anti-drug campaign from 2016 to 2022. Despite the Philippines withdrawing from the ICC in 2019, the court maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed during the country’s membership.
Duterte had consistently rejected the ICC’s authority and refused to cooperate, claiming that any legal action should be handled by Philippine courts.
A legal expert familiar with the case noted the unusual nature of the red notice, which only names Duterte and not other officials linked to the drug war, such as former police chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. The expert speculated this could signal a selective approach or a staggered issuance of notices by the ICC.
Amid the arrest, Sen. Go expressed disappointment, stating, “Nakakalungkot, sabi ko nga sa pulis, ipapa-aresto nila ang tao na ginawa lang ang trabaho niya para sa bayan,” in a live video posted on social media on Tuesday.