An unannounced trip by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to Hong Kong has set off speculations that he may be trying to evade a possible arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court over his bloody crackdown on drugs.

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said in Hong Kong that he was ready for possible arrest amid reports the International Criminal Court was poised to issue a warrant over his years-long "war on drugs" that killed thousands.

Duterte again came under the spotlight during a weekend trip to Hong Kong when the trip sparked speculation that he may have gone into exile to evade arrest. He had appeared as the main speaker on Sunday at a gathering of thousands of cheering and flag-waving Filipino expatriates, who jammed Southorn Stadium in downtown Wan Chai district.

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 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is being flown to the Netherlands to face an International Criminal Court charge of crimes against humanity linked to the deadly crackdown on drugs he overs

The International Criminal Court has had former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrested on a warrant containing charges of murder as a crime against humanity over deadly anti-drugs crackdowns he