Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested today (March 11) at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon his return from Hong Kong. The arrest, done by Philippine authorities in coordination with Interpol, came at the behest of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued a warrant accusing Duterte of crimes against humanity tied to his deadly “war on drugs.” At the same time the ongoing impeachment trial of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, marks a massive decline for the Philippine’s second most powerful political family, signaling the end of the Duterte dynasty.
Rodrigo Duterte’s Arrest
The ICC’s warrant stems from its long-running investigation into Duterte’s signature anti-drug campaign, which human rights groups claim resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Filipinos. Official government figures report over 6,000 deaths in police operations, but human rights organizations estimate the death toll about 30,000 including unlawful killings done by thugs who were reportedly provoked by Duterte’s statements. He famously encouraged police to kill drug suspects, once declaring, “If they resist, make sure it’s a fight to the death.” The ICC has argued that these actions constitute systematic crimes against humanity, specifically murder, committed during his tenure as president and even earlier as mayor of Davao City.
The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019 under Duterte’s orders, a move critics saw as an attempt to evade accountability. However, the court maintains jurisdiction over crimes allegedly committed while the country was still a member, a stance reaffirmed by appeals judges in 2023. Duterte’s arrest was facilitated by a shift in domestic politics, particularly the collapse of his family’s alliance with current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose administration signaled cooperation with Interpol despite the nation’s ICC withdrawal.
Sara Duterte’s Impeachment: A Dynasty Under Siege
As Rodrigo faces international justice, his daughter Sara Duterte, the current Vice President, is battling her own political crisis. On February 7, 2025, the House of Representatives impeached Sara on multiple charges, including betrayal of public trust, graft, corruption, and plotting to assassinate President Marcos, his wife, and the House Speaker. The allegations center on her alleged misuse of $10.6 million in public funds during her tenure as Education Secretary, a post she held under Marcos before resigning amid their falling alliance. The Senate is currently taking up Sara’s impeachment trial, which is expected to be an intense struggle.
The End of a Dynasty and a Complicated Legacy
The dual blows of Rodrigo’s arrest and Sara’s impeachment signal the end of the Duterte dynasty, once an unassailable force in Philippine politics. Rodrigo swept to power in 2016 on a wave of populist fervor, promising to eradicate drugs and crime with an iron fist. His daughter, a former Davao City mayor like her father, carried forward the family’s tough-on-crime brand, aligning with Marcos in the 2022 elections to secure the vice presidency. Their alliance crumbled and paved the way for the current situation.
