An unannounced visit by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to Hong Kong sparked speculation on Sunday that he may be attempting to avoid a potential arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to his controversial war on drugs during his presidency.
Duterte, along with his daughter, the current vice president of the Philippines, attended a political rally at the Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong’s bustling Wan Chai district. The event was held for the senatorial candidates of Duterte’s political party ahead of the May 12 midterm elections in the Philippines. Thousands of enthusiastic Filipino expatriates gathered at the stadium to hear Duterte speak.
During his speech, which was filled with expletives, Duterte addressed reports about the ICC possibly issuing an arrest warrant against him. He reiterated that he was prepared to face jail time if necessary.
The ICC has been investigating the numerous deaths during Duterte’s violent anti-drug campaign, which saw thousands of mostly impoverished drug suspects killed by police and gunmen. Duterte has denied giving official approval for extrajudicial killings, but he openly and repeatedly made threats to kill suspected drug dealers during his time in office from 2016 to 2022.
During his speech in Hong Kong, Duterte asked, “What was my sin?” and defended his actions by saying, “I did everything in my time so Filipinos could have a little peace and tranquility.” At 79 and in poor health, he added, “If this is my fate in life, it’s OK, I’ll accept it. I can’t do anything if I get arrested and jailed.”
In a lighthearted moment, he joked with the crowd about raising small contributions for the construction of a monument, which he humorously suggested should feature him holding a gun.
While journalists were initially allowed to cover the event, they were later asked to leave by unidentified organizers.
A senior Philippine official mentioned that Duterte was scheduled to return to Manila on Tuesday, while another said he could choose to extend his stay in Hong Kong. Both officials requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation.
In Manila, Communications Secretary Jay Ruiz stated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration is prepared to handle any developments related to the potential issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We have learned that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant against former President Duterte for crimes against humanity,” Ruiz said in a statement. “The government is ready for any situation that may arise.”
In Duterte’s home city of Davao, additional police forces were stationed at the international airport and new checkpoints were set up. Philippine police explained that this was part of a precautionary exercise to ensure law enforcement is prepared for any situation.
President Marcos has emphasized that Philippine authorities would fully cooperate if the ICC requests the custody of Duterte.
The International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague, was established in 2002 to act as a court of last resort for the most severe international crimes, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression. The ICC steps in when countries are either unable or unwilling to prosecute such crimes within their own borders.
Around 125 countries have ratified the court’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute, although China, which governs Hong Kong, has not.
In 2019, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC, a decision that activists criticized as an attempt to avoid accountability and block an international investigation into the drug-related killings. Despite this, the ICC still maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes that occurred while the Philippines was a member.