Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs defined his administration.
He campaigned on his unique system that swept him to strength in 2016, and delivered on claims that hundreds of drug pushers in the Philippines may be killed.
The 79-year-old could now become the , first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the , International Criminal Court ( ICC), following his arrest , on Tuesday ( Mar 11 )  , on the charge of committing crimes against humanity.
Here’s what we know about the ICC shift and what awaits Duterte in the Hague.  ,
WHY WAS DUTERTE ARRESTED?
The Philippines ‘ attorney public acted after Interpol Manila received a copy of the ICC warrant early on Tuesday, according to the national house.
Duterte was taken into custody at Manila airport shortly after stepping off a helicopter following a visit to Hong Kong.
The arrest warrant especially cites “murder as a crime against humanity” in connection with his harsh medicine war.
The court has been investigating the Duterte government’s medicine battle since Sep 15, 2021. Dozens were killed during the promotion, mostly poor people and , typically without proof they were linked to medicines.
While projections of those killed vary, lawyers at the Hague say the number of residents killed in connection with the war on drugs promotion ranges from 12, 000 to 30, 000.
WHAT WAS MARCOS ‘ ROLE IN THE Imprisonment?
The Philippines quit the ICC in 2019 on Duterte’s instructions , as it started looking into allegations of comprehensive extrajudicial murders on his watch.
The court launched a formal investigation into the drug war in September 2021, just to dismiss it two months later after Manila said it was re-examining some hundred instances of drug activities that led to deaths at the hands of officers, hitmen and mobs.
The event resumed in July 2023 after a five-judge board rejected the Philippines ‘ criticism that the judge lacked control.
Since then, the state of Ferdinand Marcos Jr on several instances said it would not cooperate with the analysis, but just reversed course, saying it would be “obliged to following” if Police ask for assistance.
Asked Tuesday what he would say to Duterte followers, Marcos said the government was” just doing its job” by living up to its international commitments.
” We did not help the International Criminal Court in any way. The arrest was made in conformity with Interpol”, he added.
” Politics doesn’t enter into it”.
This comes amid a crumbling empire between the Philippines ‘ two most powerful empires- the Dutertes and the Marcoses. Duterte’s daughter Sara was impeached as vice chairman in February on charges of corruption and plotting to attack the leader.