Rodrigo Duterte, the former President of the Philippines, is now facing charges of crimes against humanity.
Following his arrest in Manila, Duterte was transported to The Hague to be tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC), AP News reported.
On Tuesday, authorities apprehended Duterte at the Manila International Airport shortly after he returned from Hong Kong. Caught by surprise, the former leader was with his family when taken into custody, following an ICC arrest warrant executed via Interpol.
Observers saw him using a cane, and authorities allowed him a brief exchange with some visibly distressed aides and supporters before escorting him to the aircraft bound for the Netherlands. The arrest occurred under direct orders from the ICC, confirmed by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who affirmed that the action was "proper and correct" and dismissed notions of political persecution or malfeasance.
Rodrigo Duterte challenged his arrest, questioning, “Show to me now the legal basis for my being here,” further demanding accountability from those he felt were depriving him of his liberty.
This directive has resulted in a vehement response from Duterte's daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who condemned the Marcos administration for allowing the extradition, insisting that the ICC has no current jurisdiction over the Philippines.
Moreover, his legal team sought immediate intervention from the Philippine Supreme Court to prevent his transfer, although the government has confirmed Duterte's health remained stable following a thorough check by government physicians.
Randy delos Santos, representative of the victims' families, expressed relief at the arrest:
This is a big, long-awaited day for justice. We hope that top police officials and the hundreds of police officers who were involved in the illegal killings should also be placed in custody and punished.
During Duterte's term as both president and earlier as mayor of Davao City, his campaigns notably included violent anti-drug crackdowns, which, according to ICC findings, resulted in thousands of deaths — with estimates ranging from over 6,000 to as high as 30,000.
An ICC pre-trial chamber formalized the allegations by issuing an arrest warrant on March 7, 2025, citing the systematic nature of the killings which lasted from November 1, 2011, to March 16, 2019.
While families of the victims and various public groups gathered to celebrate the arrest, Duterte's supporters and several legal aides voiced strong opposition, claiming the move infringed on his constitutional rights. Senator Bong Go stated, “This is a violation of his constitutional right.”
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes commented on the gravity and broader implications of the scenario, saying, “This is like the downfall of an emperor. The next step now is to make sure that all his followers who have committed criminal transgressions like him should also be held to account.”
In conclusion, authorities have transferred Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague, marking a significant milestone in the long struggle for justice by many affected by his anti-drug campaigns. This event has polarized national opinion, exposing deep divisions between those who advocate for human rights enforcement and others who see the ICC’s intervention as a violation of national sovereignty.
