Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested early this morning at Manila International Airport on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity linked to his brutal war on drugs.

Duterte, 79, was taken into custody upon arriving from Hong Kong, where he had been on a short visit. According to a statement from the office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Duterte is currently being held at Villamor Air Base, is in good health, and is undergoing medical evaluation by government doctors.

The charges against Duterte stem from his presidency (2016–2022), during which his aggressive anti-drug campaign led to the deaths of thousands of people, including many from impoverished communities and minors. Human rights organizations have described these deaths as extrajudicial executions. In 2019, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC to avoid prosecution, but the court maintained jurisdiction over crimes committed before the withdrawal.

This arrest marks a rare instance of an ICC warrant being successfully enforced against a former head of state. The move is expected to spark political divisions within the Philippines, especially as Sara Duterte, Duterte’s daughter, currently serves as Vice President.