12-3-2025 (MANILA) Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s journey to face international justice began as a Gulfstream G550 business jet touched down in Dubai en route to The Hague. The aircraft, bearing registration RP-C5219, departed Manila’s Villamor Air Base following Duterte’s arrest on Tuesday.
The 79-year-old former leader faces grave accusations at the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning his controversial anti-narcotics campaign. The ICC has levelled charges of “crimes against humanity of murder” against Duterte, stemming from a drug enforcement strategy that, according to human rights organisations, resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities, predominantly amongst impoverished individuals, often with tenuous connections to narcotics.
Current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr defended the administration’s cooperation with Interpol in facilitating Duterte’s arrest, emphasising the significance of maintaining international law enforcement relationships. Marcos highlighted how Interpol’s assistance had previously proved crucial in cases involving Filipino fugitives abroad, including human trafficking victims in Myanmar.
Prior to his transfer, Duterte voiced strong opposition to ICC proceedings, maintaining that the court lacks jurisdiction over the Philippines. Through his daughter Veronica’s Instagram livestream, he insisted on facing trial exclusively in Philippine courts, describing his forced transfer as “kidnapping” and emphasising his preference for Filipino judges and prosecutors.
The legal landscape grew more complex when Duterte, alongside Senator Ronald dela Rosa, sought a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court. However, former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio noted that the petition became moot once Duterte left Philippine territory, though questions regarding the legality of the arrest and surrender procedures remain open for judicial review.
