An elected leader once dubbed “The Punisher” is on his way to The Hague to face trial for crimes against humanity during a brutal war on drugs, in a breathtaking reversal of fortune for a politician who once openly boasted about killing people and placing opponents on hit lists.

Rights groups say tens of thousands of unarmed suspects were murdered in extrajudicial killings during Duterte’s war on drugs.

Duterte was arrested Tuesday at Manila airport for alleged crimes against humanity over his 'war on drugs' - Anadolu Ajansı

Former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the Philippine government on Tuesday after it said it received an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity .

Police took him into custody on orders of the ICC, which has been investigating the massive killings that happened under the former president’s deadly crackdown against illegal drugs.

The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged crimes against humanity carried out by the former president as part of his deadly war on drugs.

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte said in Hong Kong that he was ready for possible arrest amid reports the International Criminal Court (ICC) was about to issue a warrant over his years-long “war on drugs” that killed thousands.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been put on a plane to The Hague following his arrest on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, his daughter and local outlet The Philippine Star have reported.