By Ceslou - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was transported to the Netherlands on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, to respond to charges of crimes against humanity brought by the International Criminal Court. These charges are associated with the violent anti-drug campaign he directed during his presidency.
At 79 years of age, Duterte was apprehended under a warrant issued by the international tribunal, an event that has been celebrated by human rights organizations and the families of victims as a significant advancement toward ending impunity.
Flight tracking information indicated that after departing from Manila, the aircraft carrying Duterte remained in Dubai for several hours before resuming its journey, seemingly en route to Rotterdam The Hague Airport. The court did not provide immediate commentary regarding the flight; however, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated on Tuesday that Duterte was arrested upon his return from a visit to Hong Kong and subsequently transferred to the ICC.
Upon his arrival in the Netherlands, he will be taken to the court’s detention facility located within a Dutch prison complex near the North Sea coast. Human rights advocates and the families of victims expressed their approval of the arrest.
“This represents a monumental and long-awaited step toward justice for thousands of victims and their families,” remarked Jerrie Abella from Amnesty International. “It serves as a hopeful indication for them, both in the Philippines and beyond, demonstrating that those suspected of committing the gravest offenses, including government officials, will be held accountable regardless of their location,” Abella added.
Emily Soriano, whose child was a victim of the crackdowns, expressed a desire for more officials to be held accountable. “Duterte is fortunate to have due process, but our children who were killed did not receive such justice,” she stated.
Duterte’s supporters have condemned his arrest as unlawful and are advocating for his return home. On Wednesday, small groups of both Duterte’s supporters and those in favor of his arrest gathered outside the court prior to his arrival.
In 2021, the International Criminal Court (ICC) initiated an investigation into mass killings associated with the so-called war on drugs that Duterte oversaw during his tenure as mayor of Davao City and subsequently as president.
Estimates regarding the death toll during Duterte’s presidency vary significantly, with the national police reporting over 6,000 fatalities, while human rights organizations claim the number could be as high as 30,000.
Judges at the ICC, after reviewing the prosecution’s evidence that led to the request for his arrest, determined there are “reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Duterte is individually responsible for the crime against humanity of murder,” acting as an “indirect co-perpetrator” by allegedly overseeing the killings during his time as mayor and later as president, as stated in the arrest warrant.
Shortly after being detained at the court’s facility, Duterte will face a hearing where judges will verify his identity, ensure he comprehends the charges against him, and establish a date for a confirmation of charges hearing. During this session, a panel of pretrial judges will evaluate whether the evidence presented by prosecutors is sufficient to warrant a full trial.
Duterte may contest the court’s jurisdiction and the admissibility of the case. Although the Philippines has withdrawn from the ICC, the alleged offenses occurred prior to this withdrawal.
She departed from the Philippines on Wednesday to facilitate a meeting in The Hague with her incarcerated father and to consult with his legal representatives, as reported by her office in Manila.
In 2019, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a decision that human rights advocates claim was intended to evade accountability.
The Duterte administration sought to halt the global court’s investigation in late 2021, contending that Philippine authorities were already examining the same allegations, thus asserting that the ICC, as a court of last resort, lacked jurisdiction.
In 2023, the ICC’s appeals judges dismissed these claims and determined that the investigation could proceed.
The judges who issued the warrant also stated that the alleged offenses fall within the court’s jurisdiction. They emphasized that Duterte’s arrest was essential due to what they described as the “risk of interference with the investigations and the security of witnesses and victims.”
