Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been transferred to The Hague, where he is now in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC). He faces accusations of crimes against humanity linked to his controversial anti-drug campaign during his presidency.
A plane carrying Duterte landed in the Netherlands on Wednesday, following his arrest at Manila’s international airport the previous day. His detention was carried out on ICC orders as part of an ongoing legal case against him.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) released a statement confirming that Duterte had been “surrendered” into its custody, with a hearing to be scheduled in “due course.” The day before, the ICC also confirmed to CNN that it had issued an arrest warrant for actions allegedly committed between 2011 and 2019.
Duterte became president in 2016 and immediately launched a large-scale war on drugs, vowing to eliminate the illegal narcotics trade. He publicly instructed law enforcement to use lethal force against drug suspects if officers believed their lives were in danger.
The ICC initiated a preliminary investigation in 2018, probing allegations that Philippine police conducted thousands of extrajudicial executions and used brutal tactics against suspected drug traffickers. The court also examined claims that Duterte tacitly endorsed these actions.
Human rights groups have accused authorities of targeting innocent civilians, including children, while police officials maintain that deadly force was used only in self-defense. Duterte has consistently denied ordering unlawful killings, though he admitted the crackdown was not without violence. Official figures indicate around 6,200 deaths occurred in police operations, though independent reports suggest the number may be significantly higher.
In a video posted online by his youngest daughter, Veronica Duterte, the former president is seen questioning the legality of his detention. “What is my sin?” he asks in the footage. “I did everything in my time so that Filipinos can have a little peace and tranquility.”
Duterte’s lawyers, acting on behalf of Veronica Duterte, have filed a petition accusing the government of “kidnapping” him and demanding his return to the Philippines. Meanwhile, his eldest daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, traveled to Amsterdam on Wednesday to support her father’s legal defense.
Human rights activists have denounced Duterte’s arrest, arguing that it violates Philippine sovereignty. Critics highlight that the Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in 2019, following Duterte’s directive, and claim that the court no longer has authority over the country’s internal affairs.
However, the ICC maintains that it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was still a signatory to the Rome Statute—the treaty that established the court.
Duterte’s case is set to be one of the most high-profile trials the ICC has pursued in recent years, with significant implications for international justice and accountability.