Former Philippines President Who Cherished Gaming Arrested Over Alleged Drug Killings
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for his capture related to alleged crimes against humanity, including anti-drug operations that resulted in the unlawful killings of thousands of suspected drug traffickers during his tenure.
Duterte, 79, served as president from June 2016 until June 2022. Duterte, the former mayor of Davao, ran his campaign focusing on crime and drug-related matters.
Upon securing the presidency, he fulfilled that promise, declaring his leadership would be “a violent one.” He guaranteed to police and soldiers that he would grant them pardons once his presidency concluded to avert legal actions related to their execution of his war.
Duterte's administration was overshadowed by disputes and claims of human rights violations. The United Nations, United States, and European Union criticized his drug war, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of around 30,000 individuals. International organizations estimate that approximately 50% of the murders were executed by unidentified attackers.
Duterte was apprehended on Tuesday at Manila International Airport as he arrived back from Hong Kong. He is the first former Asian leader to be detained by the international court.
Gaming Supporter, China Detractor
As Duterte executed his promised war on drugs, the president made a significant reversal regarding the Philippines’ multibillion-dollar gaming industry.
Duterte originally committed to removing the oligarchs who held power over the Philippines' internet gaming sector. He particularly criticized billionaire Roberto Ongpin, who managed PhilWeb, the biggest operator of internet gaming cafes in the country.
Although Ongpin had to leave PhilWeb, Duterte subsequently chose not to take action against offshore gaming operations aimed at Chinese gamblers despite ongoing appeals from the People's Republic. Following his meeting with Xi Jinping in August 2019, Duterte stated a few weeks afterward that POGOs, or Philippine offshore gaming operations, will persist.
"I decided we need it to benefit the interest of my country,” Duterte said. However, he warned POGOs that if they don’t pay their appropriate taxes and fees, “You will be shuttered. Even if you’re a gambling lord, I don’t care who you are.”
Duterte’s close associate, Jose Santiago “Chito” Romana, stated regarding POGOs that “China cannot control us.”
Duterte also terminated a plan to privatize the country’s government-owned casinos operating under the Casino Filipino name. He mentioned that the casinos offer an excessive tax advantage to the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation, which operates for the Philippine government.
Duterte prevented the Philippines from growing its privately-operated gaming sector through Boracay, a well-known tourist destination.
“You know the billionaires? They wanted to build casinos there. I did not allow it,” Duterte said in 2018.
ICC Claims
The ICC is a governmental organization situated in the Netherlands. The ICC holds international authority to prosecute individuals for serious offenses such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and acts of aggression. The Philippines do not belong to the ICC’s 125 member nations.
Following his arrest, Duterte’s lawyers asked the Philippine Supreme Court to prevent any efforts to extradite the former president to the ICC in Europe to answer the charges. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Duterte's successor, has announced that his government will work with the ICC.
