Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday, heading to The Hague after being dramatically arrested in Manila the day before under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. The arrest was related to his controversial, years-long anti-drug campaign that led to thousands of deaths in the Philippines.
Duterte was placed on a flight late Tuesday by the current government. His youngest daughter, Veronica Duterte, expressed concern on Instagram, stating that her father was being taken out of the country “by force” without regard for his health.
In a separate statement, Duterte’s elder daughter and Vice President Sara Duterte told The Philippine Star that her father was being forcibly taken to The Hague. She described the situation as “oppression and persecution” rather than justice.
Duterte’s plane made a brief stop in Dubai before arriving in Rotterdam just before 5:00 p.m. local time (12:00 p.m. ET) on Wednesday. During the layover, he received medical attention, according to reports.
After the plane departed, Sara Duterte confirmed she would be traveling to the Netherlands to join her father. The ICC stated that Duterte would not appear in court on Wednesday, and it remains unclear when he will make his first court appearance.
Rodrigo Duterte, 79, was arrested at Manila’s main airport upon his return to the Philippines from Hong Kong on Tuesday. He faces charges of crimes against humanity, specifically murder, related to his actions between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019. The International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed the arrest warrant, accusing him of committing these crimes during his brutal anti-drug campaign.
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Duterte’s successor, said he received the Interpol notice for Duterte’s arrest warrant at 3 a.m. local time. Marcos explained that the Philippines had a responsibility to fulfill its commitments to Interpol, which led them to assist with the arrest.
Duterte’s administration oversaw a violent crackdown on drug trafficking, resulting in over 6,000 deaths, according to police data. However, independent groups suggest the number of extrajudicial killings could be even higher. The intense and bloody campaign sparked both support and widespread anger, particularly from human rights groups.
The ICC, based in The Hague, had been investigating Duterte for some time, but his arrest came as a surprise to many in the country. His supporters quickly mobilized, with some confronting police outside the airbase where he was detained for several hours.
“I’m saddened because I didn’t think it would come to this point, where he would be arrested. For me, he did a lot for our country, and this is how they repay him,” said 31-year-old Aikko Valdon, a Filipino working abroad.
Duterte’s arrest and deportation mark a dramatic end to his tumultuous and violent tenure at the top of Philippine politics. He served as president of the 115-million-strong nation for six years, and his aggressive war on drugs has left a bloody legacy. Despite the controversy, Duterte remains celebrated by voters, especially in Davao city, where he served as mayor for nearly two decades before becoming president.
His anti-drug campaign resulted in thousands of deaths, with many victims being young men from impoverished areas, killed by police and vigilantes targeting drug dealers. This sparked internal investigations and an ICC probe that ultimately led to his arrest. Duterte has consistently denied overseeing extrajudicial killings, though he has admitted to ordering police to shoot suspects who resist arrest.
The arrest was met with celebration from the families of those killed during Duterte’s violent crackdown. Christine Pascual, mother of one of the victims, shared her joy, saying, “Through our prayers, what we believed in, and with the support of everyone around us, we didn’t expect this to happen. After all the years of fighting for justice, we finally saw a warrant of arrest issued against a president, against Duterte.”
Others see this as just the beginning of a long fight for justice. “The fight has just started, but we will see this through. We will not stop,” said Llore Pasco, whose two children were victims.
In 2019, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC, a move critics saw as an attempt to protect himself from accountability. However, under the ICC’s withdrawal rules, the court retains jurisdiction over crimes committed during a country’s membership period. In Duterte’s case, this period spans from 2016, when he began his presidency, to 2019, when the Philippines officially withdrew.
The ICC confirmed that an initial appearance hearing would be scheduled once Duterte is in its custody.
At a Hong Kong event on Sunday, Duterte expressed anger toward the ICC, as speculation about his arrest grew. He told supporters, “I have a warrant… from the ICC or something. What did I do wrong? I did everything I could during my time, so there is a little bit of quiet and peace for the lives of Filipinos.”
Duterte’s political aspirations did not end when his presidential term finished. In October, he registered to run for mayor in Davao, his home city.
He is still backed by a powerful political dynasty that maintains influence across the country. His daughter, Sara Duterte, was impeached last month on several charges, including allegedly plotting to assassinate the new president. His son, Sebastian Duterte, is currently the mayor of Davao and had planned to run for vice-mayor in the upcoming mid-term elections.
Note: This story has been corrected to clarify that the Instagram post was shared by Duterte’s daughter, Veronica.