The Hague, Netherlands – Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been taken into custody by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity related to his controversial war on drugs. The ICC formally confirmed Duterte’s arrest after he arrived in the Netherlands, where he faces an initial court appearance.
The charges against Duterte stem from his tenure as president, during which he allegedly created, funded, and armed death squads that carried out extrajudicial killings of purported drug users and dealers. The ICC’s warrant for his arrest states that these actions constitute crimes against humanity.
Self-confessed members of the Davao Death Squad, Edgar Matobato and Arturo Lascañas, are prepared to testify against Duterte in the ICC investigation. Both Matobato and Lascañas have previously provided detailed accounts of the death squad’s operations and Duterte’s alleged involvement.
Human rights groups have hailed Duterte’s arrest as a significant step toward justice for the thousands of victims of his drug war. “This is a monumental and long-overdue step for justice for thousands of victims and their families,” said Jerrie Abella of Amnesty International. Emily Soriano, the mother of a victim of the crackdown, expressed relief, stating, “Duterte is lucky he has due process, but our children who were killed did not have due process”.
However, Duterte’s supporters have claimed that the arrest was illegal and have sought to have him returned home. Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte, Duterte’s daughter, criticized the Marcos administration for surrendering her father to a foreign court, which she argued had no jurisdiction over the country.
Duterte’s initial court appearance is expected to occur in the coming days. The court will confirm his identity, check that he understands the charges against him, and set a date for a hearing to assess whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to send him to a full trial. If convicted, Duterte faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
This development marks a crucial moment in the pursuit of accountability for the alleged human rights abuses committed during Duterte’s presidency. The world will be watching closely as the ICC proceedings unfold.
