Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila on Tuesday and arrived in The Hague, Netherlands, on Wednesday, following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The arrest comes as part of an ongoing investigation into his controversial war on drugs, which has sparked widespread international concern.
Duterte Detained at Manila Airport
Duterte, who had been traveling in Hong Kong, was detained at Manila’s airport as he returned home. Police authorities apprehended him and placed him on a flight to Dubai. Flight tracking data revealed that his aircraft remained in Dubai for several hours before continuing its journey to Rotterdam-The Hague airport. Upon his arrival in The Hague, Dutch authorities transferred Duterte to a detention center at the Scheveningen prison, which houses a special United Nations facility for detainees connected to international crimes.
The ICC Investigation and Arrest Warrant
The ICC began its investigation into Duterte’s war on drugs in 2021, looking into potential crimes against humanity during his time as mayor of Davao City and later as the president of the Philippines. While Philippine police report over 6,000 deaths related to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, human rights groups estimate that the death toll could be as high as 30,000.
ICC judges found “reasonable grounds to believe” that Duterte played a key role in the mass killings and charged him as an “indirect co-perpetrator.” According to the arrest warrant, Duterte allegedly oversaw these killings at both the local and national levels. His role in the drug war included targeting suspected drug offenders with lethal force, a policy that became central to his administration’s law enforcement approach.
Duterte’s Efforts to Evade Accountability
In 2019, Duterte’s administration withdrew the Philippines from the ICC, a move that human rights advocates viewed as an attempt to shield him from accountability. In 2021, the Philippine government argued that local authorities were already investigating the killings and that the ICC’s intervention was unnecessary.
However, the ICC rejected these claims, and in 2023, appeals judges ruled that the court still retained jurisdiction over the case. This allowed the investigation to continue despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the court. The ICC’s ruling has been met with praise from human rights groups, who have long called for Duterte to face accountability for his actions.
What’s Next for Duterte in The Hague?
Duterte’s arrival in The Hague marks the beginning of a legal process that could stretch on for years. In the coming days, he will appear before ICC judges for an initial hearing at the court’s detention center. During this hearing, his identity will be confirmed, and the charges against him will be explained. Following this, a confirmation of charges hearing will be scheduled to determine whether a full trial will proceed.
Duterte may challenge the jurisdiction of the ICC, arguing that his withdrawal from the court in 2019 renders the case invalid. However, legal experts agree that since the alleged crimes took place before the Philippines’ exit from the ICC, the court maintains its authority to prosecute.
If the case moves forward, Duterte could face a lengthy legal battle, with proceedings possibly taking several years. Throughout the process, he may request provisional release, but judges will decide whether to grant this request or keep him in detention while the legal process unfolds.
The case against Duterte serves as a significant moment in the ICC’s ongoing efforts to hold world leaders accountable for crimes against humanity, and it could have lasting implications for the future of international justice.
