Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte refused to be fingerprinted and threatened legal action against a police general during a chaotic arrest, according to Philippine authorities.
Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre revealed details of the tense 12-hour standoff that took place on Tuesday at a Philippine air base. Despite resistance from Duterte, his family, lawyers, and friends, police eventually succeeded in placing the 79-year-old former leader onto a government-chartered jet bound for The Hague, Netherlands. There, the International Criminal Court (ICC) detained him on charges of crimes against humanity.
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Once a feared figure for his harsh anti-crime policies and controversial remarks—such as calling Pope Francis a “son of a bitch” and telling former U.S. President Barack Obama to “go to hell”—Duterte’s dramatic downfall has been hailed by human rights advocates as a major victory against state impunity.
Duterte was apprehended upon arrival at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, accompanied by his common-law wife, daughter, and friends returning from Hong Kong. He was then taken under heavy police escort to the presidential lounge at Villamor Air Base for booking, which included fingerprinting before his transfer to the Netherlands. However, Duterte and his entourage resisted, preventing his immediate transport to a Gulfstream G550 executive jet, Torre said.
The standoff lasted about 12 hours and was highly tense. According to Torre, one of his officers sustained a head injury after being struck with a cellphone by Duterte’s common-law wife, while Duterte’s daughter hurled expletives at him. Despite the hostility, Torre maintained his composure.
The former president, a former prosecutor and congressman, refused to comply with the police booking process. “We wanted to have him fingerprinted, but he resisted,” Torre said. In a separate interview, he confirmed that he had arrested and handcuffed Duterte’s executive secretary for obstructing the transfer.
A widely circulated video on social media captured Duterte surrounded by his family, lawyers, and friends, questioning Torre: “Are you going to bring me straight to the airplane?” Torre recalled Duterte defiantly stating, “You have to kill me to bring me to The Hague.” Torre responded, “That’s not our intention, sir,” as officers removed individuals blocking Duterte’s path.
Duterte’s legal team has challenged the arrest, arguing that Philippine authorities failed to present an official copy of the ICC warrant and violated his constitutional rights. His lawyers and supporters also criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s government for allowing the ICC to take custody of Duterte, despite the Philippines having withdrawn from the court.
Vice President Sara Duterte, the former president’s daughter, condemned the move, calling it a “blatant affront” to national sovereignty and an insult to Filipinos. “This is not justice—this is oppression and persecution,” she said.
President Marcos, who has since had a political rift with the vice president following their short-lived alliance in the 2022 elections, appeared on national television at midnight, refuting her accusations.
Days before his arrest, Duterte spoke to supporters in Hong Kong, acknowledging the ICC warrant and expressing his willingness to face imprisonment. “If this is my fate in life, it’s OK, I’ll accept it. I can’t do anything if I get arrested and jailed,” he said, peppering his remarks with expletives.
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Duterte’s political career was built on his ruthless stance against crime, particularly his bloody war on drugs, which resulted in thousands of deaths. Throughout his presidency, he remained unapologetic, even lashing out at world leaders who criticized his policies. He infamously told Obama to “go to hell” after being condemned for his violent anti-drug campaign.
In 2015, he shocked the Catholic Church when he cursed Pope Francis while venting frustration over a traffic jam during the pontiff’s visit to Manila. “I wanted to call. ‘Pope, you son of a bitch, go home. Don’t visit here anymore,’” he told a cheering crowd. Following widespread outrage from Filipino bishops, he later issued an apology.