Duterte's arrest indicates ICC's potential reach for leaders

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's recent arrest highlights the power of international law, particularly regarding leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A former Australian senator, Janet Rice, emphasized that the situation shows the International Criminal Court (ICC) can hold leaders accountable. Like Duterte, both Putin and Netanyahu face arrest warrants from the ICC. However, both Russia and Israel dispute the ICC's authority over their current leaders. The ICC does not have its own police force, relying on countries to execute its warrants. This makes it challenging to apprehend these leaders quickly. Rice expressed optimism that the ICC's actions against Duterte might indicate a strength in international law. She noted the dire situations involving Putin and Netanyahu and the need for accountability. Peter Murphy, from the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, stressed that it is up to the people in Russia, Ukraine, Palestine, and Israel to push for justice. Duterte's legal troubles began in 2017 when a lawyer filed a complaint against him for alleged crimes against humanity related to his anti-drug campaign. Although Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2018, the court maintains jurisdiction over events that occurred while the country was a member. Duterte was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11 and has since been transferred to The Hague for his pretrial hearing. His confirmation of charges is scheduled for late September. The drug war during his presidency has led to thousands of deaths, with estimates ranging from 12,000 to 30,000, including many considered extrajudicial killings.