Rights chiefs calls Duterte arrest 'important step' towards drug war accountability

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Wednesday hailed the arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, describing it as an "important step toward seeking accountability" for thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings committed during his anti-drug campaign from 2011 to 2019. Duterte, charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity, was taken into custody following an international warrant.

“The extremely serious charges against him will now be addressed fairly and independently, in full accordance with the law," Türk said.

Türk commended the Philippine government for cooperating with the ICC in implementing the warrant. He called for strong protection measures for victims and witnesses in the Philippines, stressing the need to avoid reprisals as the court proceedings advance.

According to the UN Human Rights Office, credible allegations of widespread extrajudicial killings linked to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign surfaced in a 2020 report, which also noted near impunity for such violations.

“Despite some steps by the Philippines authorities to review and re-open past cases, only a handful of cases so far have resulted in convictions,” Türk said. “The ICC proceedings now open a path towards addressing such impunity, at the highest levels, and shedding light on the widespread and systematic nature of these crimes.”

The High Commissioner called on the Philippines to rejoin the Rome Statute, from which it withdrew in 2019. He also cited the government’s shifting approach to drug policy and urged the continued adoption of human rights-based approaches, referencing a UN Joint Programme on human rights that concluded in August 2024.