MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte departed from the Philippines on Tuesday night aboard a chartered Gulfstream V jet bound for The Hague, Netherlands, following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The warrant, related to allegations of crimes against humanity, stems from Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign during his presidency.
Duterte was taken into custody at Ninoy Aquino International Airport shortly after arriving from Hong Kong on March 11.
He was escorted to a private area before boarding the plane, which made a refueling stop in Dubai before continuing its journey to The Hague.
Duterte was reportedly traveling alone, with no family members accompanying him, and his final destination is the ICC headquarters.
The ICC issued the arrest warrant in connection with Duterte’s “war on drugs,” which began in 2016. The policy has been widely criticized for extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.
The ICC’s investigation centers on these allegations, despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the court in 2019. The ICC maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a member.
Following his arrest, Duterte’s legal team has not issued an official statement. However, sources suggest that his defense will challenge the ICC’s jurisdiction and the validity of the charges.
