Duterte in the Hague: First Ex-President of Asian before the ICC!

Duterte in the Hague: First Ex-President of Asian before the ICC!

Den Haag, Niederlande - On March 12, 2025, there was an important event in the international case law: the former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, was handed over to the care of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Duterte was arrested in Manila on Tuesday when he returned from a trip to Hong Kong. According to an explanation of the ICC, the arrest is made in accordance with an arrest warrant for murder as a crime against humanity.

After his arrest, Duterte was immediately brought to a plane to Rotterdam, where he was transferred to a prison on the Dutch coast. It is planned that he will appear in the Haag for a first hearing in the coming days before an ICC judge. This step could have far -reaching effects on international law enforcement, since Duterte could be the first Asian former head of state to be responsible in court.

The allegations against Duterte

The ICC arrest warrant finds that Duterte created, financed and armed Deathwadders during his term as President. These groups are responsible for murders of alleged drug users and dealers. During his six-year term, 6,200 suspects were killed in anti-drug insights, while human rights activists appreciate the number at around 30,000. The ICC had initiated investigations into these mass murders in 2021, which began as Mayor of Davao during his time.

A three -member judge of the ICC found that there are “reasonable reasons”, to consider it as “indirect persons” of these crimes against humanity. This marks a drastic break with the culture of impunity that he had established around his rule. In the past, Duterte's team had argued that his arrest was illegal because the Philippines had left the ICC under his presidency. Nevertheless, the question remains which legal consequences the investigation will have.

reactions and protests

Both opponents and supporters of Dutertes gathered in front of the ICC building in the Haag. Anti-Duterte protesters called for justice and described him as a war criminal. This illustrates the split opinion about his presidency and the associated human rights violations. In the meantime, his successor, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Duterte's case could be seen as a milestone in international criminal justice, especially since arrest warrants against other heads of state, such as the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the military leader of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, were issued.

These developments throw a light on the role of ICC and the importance of international criminal jurisdiction. The ICC was created in response to the most serious crimes, such as genocide and crimes against humanity, and serves as an instrument to safeguard global peace. The ongoing investigation into Duterte shows how seriously the court of his mission fulfills and tries to give the victims of injustices a voice.

For more information about the background of the ICC and its missions, see DGVN .

The coming weeks will be crucial to observe how this case develops and what effects it has on the international relationship and the protection of human rights.

More details on Duterte's arrest and the ongoing investigation can be found at New York Times .