According to sources, Interpol has issued a red notice for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, and the Philippine National Police force is on high alert, planning to deploy at least 7,000 officers to carry out the arrest.
The scale of the police deployment is reportedly twice that of last year's operation to capture Apollo Quiboloy, the founder of the "Kingdom of Jesus Christ" church. Currently, the Philippine National Police has not officially released a statement, but major international airports and transportation hubs have already strengthened security measures to prevent any emergencies when Duterte returns to the Philippines.
A senior police officer confirmed that the police are taking necessary security measures to maintain social order and fulfill the legal responsibilities involved due to the Interpol red notice. The officer stated that in addition to the main airports and seaports nationwide, the focus of police operations will be concentrated in the capital, Manila, and Duterte's hometown, Davao City.
On March 7, Duterte, along with his wife Honeylet Avancena and daughter Victoria, flew to Hong Kong, accompanied by several former government officials. This trip has sparked speculation that he might be fleeing to avoid arrest by Interpol.
However, Duterte's former presidential legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, denied the allegations of Duterte "fleeing." He stated that Duterte's trip to Hong Kong was to attend a gathering of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) on March 9 and to express his gratitude. "This trip was planned well in advance and is unrelated to any investigation or so-called arrest warrant by any international criminal court."
The red notice is a global alert issued by Interpol, requesting member countries' law enforcement agencies to assist in arresting suspects involved in serious crimes. Duterte faces charges stemming from the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s investigation into the Philippines' "war on drugs" campaign, which he implemented during his presidency from 2016 to 2022. Official data shows that at least 6,000 people were killed by police in the campaign, while human rights organizations estimate the actual death toll could be as high as 30,000, including many suspected extrajudicial killings.
The International Criminal Court initiated an investigation in September 2021, despite the Philippine government's withdrawal from the court in 2019. The ICC still retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the Philippines was a member. Currently, Duterte is the only individual named in the red notice, while former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa has not yet been included on the list.
