Sara Duterte departs for Netherlands following father’s ICC arrest

12th March 2025 – (Manila) Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has departed for the Netherlands following her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, being served an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to his controversial “war on drugs.” The arrest occurred shortly after he returned to Manila from Hong Kong, with a plane taking off for The Hague at 11.03pm local time on Tuesday.

The younger Duterte departed Manila at 7.40am on an Emirates flight to Amsterdam, according to the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

“The OVP will provide additional details about the Vice President’s trip as needed,” it stated.

What lies ahead for Duterte: ICC detention centre in The Hague
The Vice President indicated that her trip to The Hague was arranged to visit her father and discuss their legal options with his lawyers.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr confirmed the flight, stating that it would allow the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity stemming from his administration’s anti-drug campaign, which resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands. Mr Duterte’s youngest daughter, Veronica, took to social media to claim that the plane had been used to “kidnap” her father.

The former leader, who turns 80 this month, has been accused of overseeing a violent crackdown that disproportionately affected impoverished urban communities. Reports indicate that as many as 30,000 individuals were killed during this campaign, with victims predominantly being men in low-income areas.

Duterte was apprehended at Manila’s main airport early on Tuesday, just hours after the ICC issued the warrant. “Early in the morning, Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant,” the presidential palace stated. It was confirmed that he is now in custody.

Video footage showed Duterte being assisted onto the plane, walking with a stick and surrounded by security personnel. His lawyer indicated that the aircraft was bound for The Hague, although this was not officially confirmed until Marcos’s announcement.

President Marcos, who had previously allied with Duterte’s daughter, has changed his stance regarding ICC cooperation amid rising tensions between the two families. He asserted that the arrest was executed properly and in compliance with Interpol protocols, stating, “We did not help the International Criminal Court in any way.”

Sara Duterte, meanwhile, expressed her discontent with the proceedings, claiming, “If you are a Filipino, you will never obey the foreigners inside your own country.” She dismissed the significance of communicating with Marcos, stating there was no point in addressing someone who would allow a citizen to be extradited.

The former president’s supporters argue that the ICC lacks jurisdiction, citing the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019. However, the ICC maintains that it retains authority over alleged crimes committed prior to this withdrawal.

Rodrigo Duterte has long been a polarising figure, having promised a ruthless approach to drug-related crime during his presidential campaign. His administration’s legacy is marred by accusations of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations, prompting calls for accountability from various rights groups and victims’ advocates.