Philippines on edge at prospect of arrest of ex-President Duterte over drug war

By Karen Lema

MANILA (Reuters) -Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte landed astatine Manila's airdrome connected Tuesday, section media reported, amid reports the International Criminal Court volition contented an apprehension warrant for him implicit the "war connected drugs" that killed thousands during his term.

Duterte said connected Monday successful Hong Kong that helium was acceptable to beryllium arrested if the ICC issued a warrant.

GMA NEWS reported the Philippine nationalist constabulary main and an Interpol typical were astatine the airdrome waiting for Duterte to get from Hong Kong. Reuters could not instantly corroborate that report.

ABS-CBN reported Duterte arrived astatine Manila's planetary airdrome connected Tuesday greeting successful a societal media station that featured a video of the erstwhile president. The authenticity of the video could not instantly beryllium verified.

Reuters reporters astatine the airdrome had yet to spot Duterte emerge.

As of Monday, the Philippines had not received an authoritative connection from Interpol connected an apprehension warrant from the ICC, according to the authorities of Duterte's successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Duterte's "war connected drugs" was a signature argumentation aft helium swept to powerfulness successful 2016 aft vitriolic, crime-busting run vows to termination narcotics dealers.

Human rights groups assertion that Philippine constabulary and vigilantes nether their absorption murdered unarmed cause suspects connected a monolithic standard connected Duterte's watch, allegations that authorities person denied.

The ICC has said it would prosecute an probe of suspected crimes against humanity.

While Duterte subsequently withdrew the Philippines from the ICC, the authorities nether caller person Marcos has indicated Duterte could beryllium handed over.

"Our instrumentality enforcers are acceptable to travel what instrumentality dictates, if the warrant of apprehension needs to beryllium served due to the fact that of a petition from Interpol," Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters connected Monday.

(Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by John Mair)