Manila: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte to secure his appearance before the tribunal in connection with its investigation into his controversial war on drugs. Duterte, who completed his six-year presidency in 2022, is alleged to maintain significant influence even after leaving office.

According to Philippines News Agency, the ICC pre-trial chamber issued the warrant on March 7, highlighting that Duterte is unlikely to cooperate with a summons to appear voluntarily. The chamber expressed concerns over potential interference with the investigation and the safety of witnesses and victims, emphasizing the necessity of Duterte's arrest to ensure his court appearance.

The investigation focuses on alleged crimes against humanity linked to Duterte's anti-drug campaign, which reportedly resulted in numerous deaths during his tenure as mayor of Davao City and later as president of the Philippines. Duterte was detained on Tuesday morning following his return from Hong Kong.

The ICC chamber identified reasonable grounds to suspect Duterte's individual responsibility for murder as an indirect co-perpetrator under Article 25 (3)(a) of the Rome Statute. This was based on events within the specified period, as noted in the arrest warrant signed by Presiding Judge Julia Antoanella Motoc and magistrates Sophie Alapini-Gansou and Maria del Socorro Flores Liera.

Despite the Philippines' withdrawal from the ICC on March 17, 2019, the chamber reaffirmed its jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was a state party to the Rome Statute, covering incidents from November 1, 2011, to March 16, 2019. The warrant addresses the killing of 19 suspected drug pushers or thieves by the Davao Death Squad (DDS) during Duterte's mayoral tenure, as well as the deaths of 24 individuals believed to be involved in drugs during his presidency.