Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is now in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) following his arrest in Manila on charges of crimes against humanity linked to his administration's deadly war on drugs. His transfer to The Hague came after a tense 12-hour standoff in which Duterte refused fingerprinting and threatened legal action against police officers attempting to process him, Philippine officials said.
Philippine Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre described the confrontation, which took place at Villamor Air Base on Tuesday after Duterte's arrival from Hong Kong. "It was very tense," Torre said, adding that one of his officers was injured after being struck by a cellphone thrown by Duterte's common-law wife. "His daughter was cursing me with expletives, but I kept my cool."
Duterte, 79, was taken into custody under heavy security before being flown to the Netherlands. Video footage circulating online showed him surrounded by family, lawyers, and friends as he confronted Torre. "Are you going to bring me straight to the airplane?" Duterte asked. Torre recounted that Duterte also told officers, "You have to kill me to bring me to The Hague."
The ICC confirmed his arrival in The Hague on Wednesday, stating that Duterte was "surrendered to the custody of the International Criminal Court" by Philippine authorities. The court alleges that Duterte is "criminally responsible for the crime against humanity" as part of a "widespread and systematic attack directed against the civilian population" from 2011 to 2019.
Duterte's legal team and supporters have fiercely criticized the arrest, arguing that the ICC lacks jurisdiction since the Philippines withdrew from the court in 2019. Vice President Sara Duterte, his daughter, condemned the transfer, saying, "Our own government has surrendered a Filipino citizen-even a former president at that-to foreign powers." She called the arrest "a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino who believes in our nation's independence."
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended the decision to allow the ICC to take custody of Duterte, dismissing claims of political persecution. "This is not justice-this is oppression and persecution," Sara Duterte insisted. The political divide between Marcos and the Duterte family has widened since their alliance in the 2022 elections collapsed.
Duterte, who built his political career on an aggressive anti-drug campaign, previously said he was ready to face imprisonment. "If this is my fate in life, it's OK, I'll accept it. I can't do anything if I get arrested and jailed," he told supporters in Hong Kong before his return to Manila.
The ICC investigation, launched in 2021, focuses on extrajudicial killings carried out under Duterte's leadership, first as mayor of Davao City and later as president. The official police count records 6,200 suspects killed in anti-drug operations, though human rights groups estimate the real figure could be significantly higher.
In a video message recorded on the plane and posted to his Facebook account, Duterte took responsibility for his administration's actions. "Whatever happened in the past, I will be the front of our law enforcement and the military. I said this already, that I will protect you, and I will be responsible for everything," he said. The video, viewed over 10 million times, was his first statement since being taken into ICC custody.
The ICC's Office of the Prosecutor described Duterte's transfer to the court as "a crucial step in our continuous work to ensure accountability for the victims of the most serious crimes under ICC jurisdiction." He is expected to make an initial court appearance in the coming days, where a judge will determine the next steps in the legal proceedings.
Sara Duterte arrived in The Hague on Wednesday evening, according to her office, seeking to meet with her father and discuss his legal defense. Meanwhile, international human rights organizations hailed the arrest as a landmark moment for global justice, while Duterte's supporters in the Philippines and abroad protested the move.
