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Harvey Kong

Emily Hung

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has denied he committed crimes against humanity in his controversial crackdown on drugs, telling thousands of Filipinos packed into a stadium in Hong Kong he only wanted to help people.
The 79-year-old delivered an emotionally charged speech at Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai on Sunday at the event for Filipino workers, as he hit out over an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation amid speculation the global body would issue a warrant for his arrest.
“[The ICC] has been chasing me for a long time. What did I do wrong? I did everything that I could in my time, so there could be a little bit of quiet and peace for the lives of the Filipinos,” he said.
“Why did I do that? Was it for myself? Was it for my family? It is for you and your children in our country.
“There is nothing we can do if we get arrested and jailed, in the meantime, just contribute … so when I get out of jail, you can make me a monument.”
The crowd responded with chants and applause throughout the 50-minute speech.
Duterte also said Hong Kong authorities had requested he “avoid talking about politics”. He told the audience that he had not planned to discuss politics and would do so when he was back in his home country.

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte addresses the audience at an event for overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, where he has denied any wrongdoing amid an International Criminal Court investigation into his controversial anti-drug campaign. pic.twitter.com/n0BodDKiFH
— Harvey Kong (@_HarveyKong_) March 9, 2025

His daughter Sara Duterte, vice-president of the Philippines, also took the stage hours before her father made an appearance. The event, which ran from 9am to 5pm, saw politicians endorsing senatorial candidates running for the midterm election in the Philippines on May 12.
Rodrigo Duterte is being investigated by the ICC over his controversial “war on drugs” campaign, which allegedly led to the deaths of 12,000 to 30,000 people between 2016 and 2019. He also withdrew the country from the ICC in 2019.
In an earlier testimony in a Philippine senate hearing, he admitted that he had a “death squad” of gangsters to carry out his anti-narcotics drive while mayor of Davao City.
Members of the opposition camp in the Philippines, such as retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, had speculated that an ICC arrest warrant against Duterte would be issued as early as last year.
Salvador Panelo, Rodrigo Duterte’s former chief presidential legal counsel, has denied claims that the ex-president fled the country to evade an impending ICC arrest warrant.
The country has said it will cooperate if the ICC issues the warrant.
As the event ended, a Post reporter approached the former president for comment on the speculation. But he was surrounded by attendees in a noisy environment and did not respond.
The queue of people outside the stadium stretched along Johnston Road from as early as 8am. Those without tickets were directed to wait at a football pitch in the area.
The Post observed a significant police presence at the event, with both uniformed and plain-clothes officers handling crowd control.

International relations expert Wilson Chan Wai-shun said the former president might have been drawn to the city to deliver a speech given the large community of workers from the Philippines, who could vote in elections while overseas.
In 2022, the number of Filipinos who cast votes in Hong Kong reached a record high of 60,000, surpassing the previous level of 52,000 set in 2016.
Chan said Hong Kong was not obliged to arrest Rodrigo Duterte if he became the subject of an ICC warrant.
“Even if an arrest warrant is issued during the stay and the ICC seeks help from Interpol to issue a red notice, Hong Kong has no legal obligation to arrest him because China is not a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC,” he said.
“It is also Beijing’s diplomatic principle to not allow any international organisation to have law enforcement authority that overrides its national sovereignty.”
But he said the issuing of a red notice would create an “awkward” situation for Hong Kong given its close ties to Interpol, which will host its general assembly in the city next year.
Media outlets in the Philippines reported that Duterte arrived in Hong Kong on Friday.
In a reply to the Post, the government said it did not comment on individual cases, speculation or acts in accordance with laws and policies.


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Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is the subject of an ICC investigation into his controversial anti-drug campaign. Photo: Sam Tsang

Sara Duterte, the country’s vice-president, made an appearance at the event. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Rodrigo Duterte, the former Philippine president, endorses senatorial candidates aligned with his political party in Manila on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Philippine’s former president Rodrigo Duterte (centre) and senatorial candidates of his PDP-Laban’s party gesture during a proclamation rally ahead of the midterm elections on February 13, 2025. Photo: AFP

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Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte speaks last October during a senate inquiry on the so-called war on drugs during his time in office. Photo: AP

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio raise hands during the inauguration ceremony in 2022 in Manila Photo: AP

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News

Hong Kong

Politics

Ex-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte delivers fiery speech amid speculation over whether International Criminal Court will issue arrest warrant


Ex-Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte delivers fiery speech amid speculation over whether International Criminal Court will issue arrest warrant.
