Former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has embarked on a journey from Manila, bound for The Hague to be presented before the International Criminal Court (ICC). The aircraft carrying Duterte commenced its voyage late on Tuesday. Duterte’s arrest was facilitated upon his return with his relatives from Hong Kong at Manila’s international airport Tuesday, following an arrest warrant issued by the ICC.
The global justice system requested Duterte’s apprehension due to allegations of him instigating crimes against humanity in relation to the lethal anti-narcotics initiative that he presided over during his tenure, as informed by the Philippine government. Duterte, 79, appeared to be walking with difficulty, aided by a cane, and made a momentary turn towards a small assembly of assistants and supporters. Those present couldn’t help but shed tears as they waved him goodbye. He was then supported by an attache and guided up the steps into the aircraft.
Duterte, being a former President of the Philippines, was detained on Tuesday due to a warrant from the ICC. The warrant details allegations of human rights violations stemming from fatal anti-drug operations he implemented while in office, as reported by Philippine government officials. After touching down from Hong Kong with his family, Duterte was taken into police custody at Manila’s international airport, making him the first ex-Asian leader to be detained by the international court.
Post-apprehension, Duterte was transported to the nearby Villamor Air Base. The subsequent whereabouts and decisions by the authorities regarding his movements were unclear at the time. Cloaked in a dark jacket, Duterte expressed vehement objection to his abrupt arrest upon arrival and questioned the authorities about the legal justification for his detention.
Duterte’s team of attorneys immediately appealed to the Supreme Court in Manila, aiming to thwart any attempts to transport Duterte out of the country for extradition to the ICC in Europe. Duterte, captured on video by his daughter, Veronica Duterte, demanded answers from the authorities, asking, ‘Now show me the legal basis for my presence here.’
He pointedly added, ‘You have to account immediately for this deprivation of liberty.’ The unexpected arrest incited turmoil at the airport, with Duterte’s lawyers and aides voicing their protests. They claimed they were unjustifiably barred from approaching Duterte, who was in police custody, along with a doctor and other attorneys.
One close ally of Duterte commented to reporters, ‘This is an infringement of his constitutional rights.’ The ICC has been conducting an ongoing investigation into widespread killings that took place under Duterte’s rule, both during his stint as mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao and later as president.
Death toll estimates from Duterte’s presidential crackdown are varied, with Philippine national police reporting more than 6,000 deaths, and human rights groups alleging the figure could be as high as 30,000. ‘Upon his arrival, the prosecutor general presented the ICC notification of an arrest warrant against the former president for crimes against humanity,’ the government said, adding, ‘He’s now in the hands of the authorities.’
The arrest warrant issued by the ICC to Filipino officials was confirmation of ‘reasonable grounds to suspect that’ the attack on victims ‘was both extensive and systematic.’ The document elaborated that these attacks had transpired over several years, and claimed thousands of lives. The warrant stated that Duterte’s apprehension was critical to guarantee his presence in court, considering anticipations that he would disregard court summons.
Despite Duterte having relinquished his presidential duties, the order maintained that he ‘seems to continue to possess substantial power.’ The text further noted the resulting risk of investigation interference and the safety of witnesses and victims, concluding that ‘the chamber is in agreement that Mr. Duterte’s arrest is necessary.’
The startling arrest and downfall of Duterte shocked families of those who were victims of his crackdown. Some were seen in tears, while others convened in a spontaneous street rally to voice their satisfaction with the development. ‘This is a monumental, anticipated day for justice,’ quoted a relative of a victim killed in an anti-drug operation.
Now we understand that justice is in motion. We hope that officials and police officers involved in these unlawful deaths will also be detained and face retribution,’ they added. The government assured that the ex-leader, who is 79, was in robust health and had been impulsively examined by government physicians following his arrest.
The ICC has been probing drug-related killings stemming from Duterte’s reign from Nov. 1, 2011, when he was city mayor of Davao, until March 16, 2019, as potential crimes against humanity. In 2019, Duterte initiated the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute, a manoeuvre that human rights activists claim was his attempt to evade responsibility.
Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court ruled that the investigation into Duterte’s administration could continue, despite objections. The scope of the ICC includes intervention in scenarios where countries evidently fail to prosecute suspects for serious international crimes, encompassing genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The newly elected administration stated that they would offer their cooperation if the ICC requested the international police to detain Duterte via a so-called Red Notice, a global request instructing law enforcement agencies to locate and provisionally hold a crime suspect.
Confirming Duterte’s arrest, the Philippine government stated, ‘He is now under the control of the authorities.’ This marks a significant juncture in confronting human rights violations and serves as a reminder that even the most powerful individuals cannot evade accountability for their actions.