Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has been “forcibly taken” onto a plane bound for The Hague, his daughter said Tuesday, following his dramatic arrest on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Duterte faces charges related to his brutal anti-drug crackdown, which resulted in thousands of deaths.
The 79-year-old ex-leader was placed on a flight late Tuesday, according to the current government. “They are taking him out on a plane by force without considering his health conditions,” his youngest daughter, Veronica Duterte, wrote on Instagram.
In a separate statement to The Philippine Star, Duterte’s elder daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, confirmed the destination. “As I write this, he is being forcibly taken to The Hague tonight. This is not justice – this is oppression and persecution,” she said.
Duterte’s plane made a layover in Dubai for several hours before continuing to the Netherlands on Wednesday, according to flight tracking websites. Initially scheduled to land at 7:00 a.m. local time, tracking service Flightradar24 now estimates arrival at 5:00 p.m. local time. Duterte received medical attention during the layover, Reuters reported.
Following the departure, Sara Duterte told reporters she would travel to the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Duterte was taken into custody at Manila’s main airport upon returning from Hong Kong on Tuesday. The ICC confirmed the arrest warrant was issued for Duterte on charges of murder as a crime against humanity, covering actions allegedly committed between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Duterte’s successor, acknowledged receiving an Interpol notice for Duterte’s arrest warrant at 3 a.m. local time.
“Interpol asked for help and we obliged because we have commitments to the Interpol which we have to fulfill,” Marcos said during a Tuesday night press conference.
Duterte, known for his harsh anti-drug campaign, led an aggressive crackdown on drug dealers, targeting the illegal trade with relentless and violent tactics. While police data confirms more than 6,000 fatalities, independent monitors estimate the number of extrajudicial killings is significantly higher.
The ICC’s ongoing investigation into Duterte was well known, but his arrest nonetheless sent shockwaves across the country. His loyal supporters mobilized immediately, with some angrily confronting police outside the airbase where he was held for several hours.
“I’m sad because I didn’t think it would come to a point where he would be arrested. For me, he did a lot for our country, and this is what they did to him,” said Aikko Valdon, a 31-year-old overseas Filipino worker, speaking to Reuters.
Duterte’s arrest marks a dramatic conclusion to his turbulent and controversial reign over the Philippines. He ruled the nation of 115 million for six years, leaving behind a legacy of violence. However, he remains widely revered in Davao City, where he served as mayor for two decades before becoming president.
His drug war resulted in thousands of deaths, disproportionately affecting young men from impoverished communities. Many were shot by police and vigilantes as part of the campaign against drug dealers, leading to domestic inquiries and the ICC investigation that culminated in his arrest.
Duterte has consistently denied ordering extrajudicial killings, though he has publicly admitted instructing police to shoot suspects who resisted arrest.
For the families of those killed in Duterte’s drug war, his arrest represents long-awaited justice.
Christine Pascual, whose son was among the victims, told Reuters, “Through our prayers and the years we fought for justice, we did not expect this moment to come. Finally, an arrest warrant was issued against Duterte.”
Other victims’ relatives see the arrest as just the beginning of a longer fight. “The fight has just started, but we will make sure to see this through. We will not stop,” said Llore Pasco, a mother of two victims.
Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019, a move widely criticized as an attempt to shield himself from accountability. However, under the ICC’s jurisdiction rules, the court retains authority over crimes committed while a country was still a member—in this case, between 2016, when Duterte took office, and 2019, when the withdrawal took effect.
The ICC announced that Duterte will face an initial appearance hearing once in its custody.
At an event in Hong Kong on Sunday, Duterte appeared to anticipate his fate, lashing out at the ICC. “I have a warrant … from the ICC or something,” he told supporters. “What did I do wrong? I did everything that I could in my time so that there is a little bit of quiet and peace for the lives of the Filipinos.”
Despite leaving office, Duterte remained politically active. He registered in October to run for mayor of Davao once again. His family continues to wield considerable political influence across the country.
Sara Duterte, his daughter, was impeached last month on allegations including plotting to assassinate President Marcos. Meanwhile, Duterte’s son, Sebastian Duterte, serves as Davao’s current mayor and had planned to run as his father’s vice mayor in the upcoming mid-term elections.
A CNN/Reuters report
