Rodrigo Duterte: Ex-Philippine leader in The Hague after drug war arrest

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has arrived in the Netherlands, where he will face charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) stemming from the numerous deaths caused by his "war on drugs" during his presidency. Duterte was arrested at Manila airport and hours later flown by chartered plane to The Hague via Dubai, the seat of the International Criminal Court.

Duterte, 79, may become the first former Asian head of state to stand trial at the International Criminal Court. Duterte had previously challenged the extradition. He served as President of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022 and led a violent "war on drugs" that resulted in the extrajudicial killings of thousands of petty drug dealers, drug users, and others.

According to Reuters, a Gulfstream G550 private jet made a brief stop in Dubai early Wednesday, with the expected departure time delayed by several hours due to Duterte undergoing a medical examination. Upon the plane's arrival in Rotterdam, the International Criminal Court confirmed that Duterte had been detained and would face charges of "murder as a crime against humanity." "The Court will schedule Mr. Duterte's initial appearance in due course."

Meanwhile, supporters of the former president gathered outside the Hague prison institution to protest his arrest. Many waved Philippine flags, while others imitated Duterte's signature fist-pump gesture. "We support Duterte," read a banner held by supporters. Duterte's main political rival, current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., played a key role in handing Duterte over. Minutes after Duterte left Philippine airspace, Marcos Jr. gave a televised address stating that the country was fulfilling its legal obligations. "This is what the international community expects of us," Marcos Jr. said.

The Duterte and Marcos families are the Philippines' most powerful political dynasties. They joined forces in the 2022 national elections, sweeping the country, but relations have broken down in recent months due to pursuing different agendas. Duterte's transfer to the International Criminal Court is the latest twist in this publicly staged political feud. Duterte and the Marcos family formed a powerful alliance in the 2022 elections. Despite the elder Duterte's wishes, his daughter Sara chose to run as Marcos Jr.'s vice-presidential candidate rather than seek her father's position. Marcos Jr. initially refused to cooperate with the International Criminal Court's investigation, but he changed his stance as his relationship with the Duterte family deteriorated.

Vice President Duterte said her father's arrest amounted to "kidnapping," claiming it violated Philippine sovereignty. According to her office, she left Manila for the Netherlands on Wednesday. Rodrigo Duterte had previously insisted that the International Criminal Court had no jurisdiction over the Philippines because he withdrew the country from the court in 2019, three years after the court took note of the rising death toll in the war on drugs. But under the Rome Statute, which serves as the basis for the International Criminal Court, the court retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before a country withdraws from the court.

The International Criminal Court's investigation covers 2011-2019, including Duterte's time as mayor of Davao City, a sprawling metropolis in the southern Philippines where his family has held power for decades. The lawsuit against Duterte at the International Criminal Court alleges that he maintained a "death squad" of bounty hunters specifically targeting drug suspects in Davao City and that he promoted this model nationwide after being elected president. Human Rights Watch called Duterte's arrest "a key step for accountability in the Philippines."

Duterte transformed Davao City into one of the safest cities in the Philippines and cultivated a folksy, anti-establishment populist image, propelling him to victory in the 2016 presidential election. Polls showed that he was the most popular Philippine president since the restoration of democracy in 1986. His supporters have threatened to hold mass rallies to protest his arrest. They had requested the Supreme Court to issue a restraining order against the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant, but the court took no action before the former president was flown out of the country on Tuesday.

On social media, where the Duterte family has a strong following, reactions have been mixed. Many have praised the International Criminal Court for seeking justice for those who died in the war on drugs, while others have defended Duterte's legacy, with some calling for widespread rallies. "Justice is served," wrote one top-liked comment on TikTok. Another TikTok user wrote, "The Philippines was safe during the Duterte era," and said the former leader built bridges, roads, and other infrastructure. "He was the best president."