Duterte’s Arrest Shocks the Philippines: Betrayal, Power Struggles, and the ICC Showdown

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Philippines has witnessed its fair share of political drama, but nothing compares to the seismic events of March 2025. In a stunning turn of fate, former President Rodrigo Duterte—once feared, once untouchable—was arrested in Manila on March 11 and swiftly transferred to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

A man who once prided himself on his iron fist was now forced to stand meekly before three ICC women judges. The spectacle was surreal: the tough-talking leader who encouraged extrajudicial killings and scoffed at human rights was suddenly at the mercy of a court he had dismissed as irrelevant.

A Family Divided: The Marcos Rift Explodes

But the drama does not stop there. In the days following Duterte’s arrest, the political landscape in the Philippines turned into a battlefield—not just between allies and foes, but within families themselves.

Senator Imee Marcos, the estranged sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., dropped a political bombshell by calling for a Senate inquiry into her own brother’s decision to cooperate with Interpol, which executed the ICC’s arrest warrant for Duterte. In a defiant stand, Imee has refused to join administration campaign rallies for the upcoming May elections, fueling speculation of a full-blown sibling war. Marcos Jr. retaliated subtly but effectively—when he took the stage in Laguna on March 22, he made it clear that he was endorsing only 11 senatorial candidates, not 12. His sister, it seems, was the missing name.

Could this be the beginning of a Marcos split that reshapes Philippine politics?

Allies Turn on Each Other

As if the Marcos family rift weren’t enough, Duterte’s arrest sent shockwaves through the president’s inner circle. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who served as Duterte’s interior secretary, made an unexpected move—he distanced himself from the entire operation. In the March 20 Senate hearing, Año looked visibly annoyed as he denied any involvement in the planning of Duterte’s arrest, despite Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s claims that top officials met in Malacañang before the operation.

Adding another layer of absurdity, Año (or his supporters) even bought newspaper space to proclaim his innocence. Was this an act of desperation, or was he truly afraid of Duterte’s still-loyal supporters?

Justice Secretary Boying Remulla, however, brought the focus back to reality. In a pointed statement, he reminded everyone—including Imee Marcos—why the ICC had to intervene: because the families of Duterte’s drug war victims found no justice in the Philippines.

A Web of Lies and Legal Loopholes

Duterte’s supporters tried to discredit the arrest, claiming it was illegal, that it violated national sovereignty, and that it was a political hit job. But here’s the kicker—it doesn’t matter.

Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and transnational justice expert Ruben Carranza were quick to shut down the noise, citing a key principle in international law:

Male captus, bene detentus — "wrongly captured, properly detained."

In short, even if the Philippines made a legal misstep in arresting Duterte, the ICC won’t care. What matters is that Duterte is in their custody, and he will face trial.

What Happens Next? Can Duterte Walk Free?

The big question on everyone’s mind is: How long will this legal battle last? Can Duterte be released before his scheduled confirmation of charges hearing on September 23?

His defense lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, is expected to challenge the ICC’s jurisdiction, but legal experts say Duterte’s chances of walking free are slim to none. Lawyer Ruben Carranza bluntly stated that an interim release is highly unlikely.

And let’s not forget another name closely tied to Duterte’s brutal drug war—retired National Police Chief and current Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa. As one of the key architects of the bloody campaign that led to thousands of deaths, is he next on the ICC’s list?

A Nation in Shock: What Does This Mean for the Philippines?

For Duterte’s diehard supporters, the arrest is a nightmare come true. The same man who once disregarded due process and mocked human rights now clings to them for his own survival.

For the families of the drug war victims, this is a long-awaited moment of justice. Many believed they would never see the day Duterte would be held accountable for the thousands of lives lost. Jerica Ann Pico, whose husband was killed in the anti-narcotics campaign, called the arrest a “rebirth” for those who had lost hope.

But for the rest of the Philippines, this is just the beginning of a larger reckoning.

Will the ICC’s case dismantle Duterte’s political dynasty? Will Marcos Jr. and Imee’s feud lead to an even bigger power shift? And will Bato dela Rosa, the enforcer of Duterte’s bloody drug war, soon face the same fate as his former boss?

The answers will unfold in the coming months. One thing is certain: this is a moment that will define the future of the Philippines.

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.