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ICC confirms it issued arrest warrant for former Philippine president

It was previously reported that Duterte, who was in power in the Philippines from 2016-2022, was arrested by the country’s police and then flown aboard a private jet to The Hague

THE HAGUE, March 11. /TASS/. The International Criminal Court said its Pre-Trial Chamber has issued an arrest warrant for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on charges of crimes against humanity.

Duterte is suspected of allegedly committing "the crime of murder as a crime against humanity" in the Philippines from November 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019, according to a statement from the court.

"Once a suspect is in ICC custody, an initial appearance hearing will be scheduled. Further information will be communicated in due course," the statement said.

It was previously reported that Duterte, who was in power in the Philippines from 2016-2022, was arrested by the country’s police and then flown aboard a private jet to The Hague.

On September 15, 2021, the Pre-Trial Chamber approved a request from the Prosecutor's Office to start a full-blown investigation into crimes committed during the fight against drug trafficking in the Philippines. It concluded that there were grounds to investigate the killings perpetrated in the country between November 1, 2011 and March 19, 2019. According to the prosecutor's office, between 12,000 and 30,000 people were killed for using or selling drugs as part of the government’s campaign, and some of the killings allegedly could have been done in police operations without proper investigations or trials.

In March 2018, during Duterte's presidency, the Philippines decided to withdraw from the ICC and filed an application to this effect with the UN. The decision came into effect a year later. However, the court maintains that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was a member.

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