Duterte Faces ICC Charges as He Departs for The Hague

Former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte speaks inside a Hong Kong stadium during a thanksgiving gathering organized by Filipino workers in Hong Kong, March 9, 2025

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte departed for the Netherlands on Tuesday to face trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity related to his controversial war on drugs, which led to thousands of deaths. The move was met with mixed reactions, with human rights advocates welcoming it and supporters protesting his arrest.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed that Duterte’s flight had left Philippine airspace, hours after the former president returned from Hong Kong. Marcos stated that the transfer was conducted in response to an Interpol request, clarifying that the decision was not directly influenced by the ICC but rather an obligation to international law enforcement cooperation.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (center) gets a meal inside the Villamor Air Base in Pasay, Metro Manila, after arriving from Hong Kong, March 11, 2025.

Duterte, 79, was served an arrest warrant upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. He voluntarily accompanied authorities to Villamor Air Base, where he was examined by a government physician who confirmed he was in good health, despite using a cane. The former president attempted to challenge his arrest, questioning officers about the legality of his detention and the charges against him.

His legal team swiftly petitioned the Philippine Supreme Court to halt his transfer, arguing against the government’s cooperation with the ICC. The petition requested a temporary restraining order to prevent authorities from assisting the court’s investigation or enforcing its arrest warrants.

The ICC confirmed that an arrest warrant had been issued for Duterte, citing alleged crimes committed between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019. The court announced that once he was in custody, an initial hearing would be scheduled.

The plane carrying former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague takes off in Manila, March 11, 2025.

Vice President Sara Duterte, Duterte’s daughter, condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on national sovereignty. She criticized the Marcos administration for allowing a former president to be handed over to a foreign tribunal, arguing that he had been denied due process. Supporters gathered outside Villamor Air Base in protest, while Duterte’s lawyer, Salvador Panelo, accused authorities of preventing him from meeting his client, calling the arrest unlawful.

The ICC’s case against Duterte stems from a years-long investigation into his anti-drug campaign, which he defended as necessary to combat crime. Before his arrest, Duterte had publicly dared the ICC to investigate him, stating he was prepared to face charges. His administration’s records show at least 6,200 people were killed in the drug war, though human rights groups estimate the toll to be over 20,000.

The arrest has sparked significant political and social reactions. Former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who was imprisoned during Duterte’s presidency on charges widely seen as politically motivated, described the event as a turning point in the country’s pursuit of justice. She emphasized that many victims' families viewed the ICC as their only hope for accountability.

Human Rights Watch called the arrest a critical step toward justice, urging the Marcos administration to surrender Duterte to the ICC without delay.

For many families affected by the drug war, Duterte’s arrest represents long-awaited accountability. Grace Garganta, whose father and brother were killed, expressed relief, stating that she wanted the world to know the truth about the violence that had claimed thousands of lives.