Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has arrived in the Netherlands to face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over allegations of crimes against humanity.
Arrested in Manila on 11 March, Duterte was transferred to ICC custody and taken to a detention centre near The Hague.
The 79-year-old former leader faces charges related to his war on drugs, which human rights organisations claim led to thousands of extrajudicial killings.
According to the ICC, he was arrested by Philippine authorities in compliance with an arrest warrant issued for “charges of murder as a crime against humanity.”
Duterte defiant as he arrives at ICC
Duterte was flown from Manila to the Netherlands on 12 March.
In a video recorded before his arrival, he maintained his responsibility for the anti-drug campaign, stating:
“I am the one who led our law enforcement and military. I said that I will protect you and I will be responsible for all of this.”
He also acknowledged that the trial would be a long legal process but insisted he would “continue to serve the country.”
Upon arrival, he was taken to a detention centre on the Dutch coast, where he will remain until his first court appearance, expected in the coming days.
If convicted, Duterte could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Speaking in Hong Kong before his capture, he defended his actions: “Assuming (the warrant is) true, why did I do it? For myself? For my family? For you and your children, and for our nation.”
Duterte had previously pledged to “kill thousands of drug dealers,” even saying that bodies would be dumped in Manila Bay to “feed the fish.”
Reactions to Duterte’s arrest
The arrest of Duterte has been met with mixed reactions.
Gilbert Andres, a lawyer representing victims of the drug war, welcomed the move, calling it “a great signal for international criminal justice.”
Speaking outside the court, he said: “It means that no one is above the law … There will be a day of justice for everyone … even powerful men such as Rodrigo Duterte.”
Rights group Amnesty International also praised the development, calling it a “monumental and long-overdue step for justice.”
Jerrie Abella of Amnesty stated: “This is a hopeful sign that suspected perpetrators of the worst crimes, including government leaders, will face justice wherever they are in the world.”
Duterte’s arrest on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant is a hopeful sign for victims in the Philippines and beyond. It shows that suspected perpetrators of the worst crimes, including government leaders, can and will face justice, wherever they are in the world. pic.twitter.com/XM8FVZBmP6
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) March 11, 2025
However, supporters of Duterte gathered outside the ICC in protest, chanting: “We are with Duterte.”
Many reject the court’s jurisdiction, pointing out that Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019 to avoid such prosecutions.
The ICC clarified that its jurisdiction covers crimes committed before the Philippines’ withdrawal when the country was still a member.
ICC investigation into the war on drugs
Duterte’s war on drugs was a defining policy of his presidency. Launched in 2016, the campaign led to thousands of deaths.
Official police figures estimate over 6,000 drug suspects were killed, but human rights groups claim the number could be between 12,000 and 30,000, with many deaths attributed to police and vigilante executions.
Duterte’s administration argued that the crackdown was necessary to combat drug-related crime, but critics accused it of enabling systematic human rights violations.
The ICC’s probe, led by prosecutor Karim Khan, has focused on killings between 2016 and 2019.
It also includes alleged crimes committed between 2011 and 2016 in Davao City, where Duterte was mayor. During that time, he was accused of tolerating or enabling extrajudicial killings.
Khan emphasised the significance of Duterte’s arrest, saying: “Many say that international law is not as strong as we want, and I agree with that. But international law is not as weak as some may think.”
Political implications in the Philippines
Duterte’s arrest signals a shift in the stance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s administration. Initially, Marcos dismissed the ICC’s jurisdiction, but his government ultimately complied with the court’s request for Duterte’s arrest.
This comes amid rising tensions between the Marcos and Duterte camps. Duterte’s daughter, former Vice President Sara Duterte, was impeached in February 2025 and is set to face trial in July over alleged misuse of public funds and an assassination threat against Marcos.
Duterte has also accused Marcos of drug use during campaign speeches—an allegation Marcos has repeatedly denied.
The ICC lacks an enforcement mechanism and relies on the cooperation of states.
Philippine authorities acted on a request sent to Interpol, marking a notable departure from Duterte’s era of defiance against international legal institutions.
The post Rodrigo Duterte in ICC custody after arrest over war on drugs appeared first on The Online Citizen.
