Duterte arrested for crimes against humanity in Philippines

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on March 11 by Interpol for crimes against humanity related to his controversial "war on drugs." This arrest follows an International Criminal Court warrant, marking a significant development in addressing the violence that resulted in thousands of deaths. Duterte's drug campaign, which began during his presidency from 2016 to 2022, led to widespread extrajudicial killings. Despite previous hopes for accountability after a police conviction in 2017, many cases remain unresolved, and police involvement complicates prosecution efforts. The International Criminal Court faces challenges in building a case against Duterte due to a lack of evidence and witness intimidation. Although the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, the court can still pursue cases for crimes committed while the country was a member.