Desk
Share
Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, remarked that he was willing to bear the consequences after the International Criminal Court took him in custody on Wednesday for his alleged charges on the war against drugs.
The Hague ICC suspects that there are “reasonable grounds” to put forth a case against Duterte due to his alleged murder accusation which acted as an ‘indirect co-perpetrator’ of the anti-drug campaign that, without a doubt, obliterated numerous lives.
Due to his military background, Duterte made a statement that balances his supporting role with his conservative stance. He said, “I have been telling the police, the military, that it was my job and I am responsible.” This quote captures the perspective of the 79-year-old man, also the very first former head of state from Asia to have faced the ICC.
Duterte was surely under the gaze after he landed in a private plane in Rotterdam as a spokesperson made confirmation regarding him being in court custody.
Duterte's vehicle was escorted by some national supporters followed by journalists who impatiently awaited their chance to witness the Action. Some supporters began shouting absurdities such as "Bring him back," while waving national flags after seeing the vehicle drive past a crowd filled with emotion.
“There has not been a due process,” said caretaker Duds Quibin, 50. “This amounts to kidnapping. They simply placed him on a plane and transported him here,” he said in an interview with AFP.
The facility, which is situated near the North Sea coast, provides each inmate with a private cell containing a computer, as well a yard for physical activity.
Duterte will be detained there until he makes his first court appearance, which will likely take place in a few days.
Outside of the ICC, Gilbert Andres, a lawyer for victims of the drug war, told AFP, "My clients are very thankful to God since their hopes have been fulfilled.”
“The arrest of Rodrigo Duterte is a great signal for international criminal justice. Masking no one is above the law,” Andres continued.
‘Oppression and persecution’
Asked about her father’s movements, Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte claimed he was being “forcibly taken to The Hague” calling the transfer “oppression and persecution.”
On Wednesday, she has flew from Manila to sit next to him.
An aide to the vice president told AFP that she has since arrived in Amsterdam and is expected to speak to the press from The Hague on Friday.
The partnership between President Ferdinand Marcos and the Duterte family was inconsequential until it became controversial during the 2022 presidential elections when Sara Duterte became Marcos's running mate as Vice President. Since then, the partnership has continued to create more tension than peace.
She is currently in the Senate facing trial on various counts of corruption and on one charge of attempting to murder Marcos.
People whose relatives died in the war on drugs were happy with the arrest. One of the supporters, Emily Soriano, speaking at a human rights group mentioned: “Duterte is lucky, there is due process in place to protect him. There was no due process for my son."
“Right now, he will be sleeping on a comfortably bed while my son is rotting in a grave,” said Soriano.
UN Human Rights Chief Völker Turk called the arrest “A great stride towards seeking accountability for the thousands of victims of killings,” suggesting that this is a step closer to justice.
Yes, But China has put out a statement warning the ICC against “political driven” headlines and claiming "we are keeping an eye on the case of Duterte." This goes to show how China is seeking to solidify itself in the new high-profile case when the ICC is still under the sanction of Donald Trump.
The US president does not approve of the International Criminal Court, established in 2002 with the mandate to prosecute genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, after it placed an arrest warrant against the sitting Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Prosecutor Khan of the ICC said that the ‘importance’ in carrying out Duterte’s arrest warrant, ‘is emblematic of its victims,’ and proof that international law ‘is not so parch as others might speculate.’
‘Davao Death Squad’
On the demand of President Duterte, the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019.
The court, however, extends its jurisdiction over murders that occurred within this timeframe, including those in the Davao region while Duterte was serving as mayor.
The ICC in its arrest warrant noted that there were ‘sufficient grounds to presume’ that at least 19 residents of the city were systematically executed by the ‘Davao Death Squad’ which was led by Duterte.
In addition, there is a belief by judges that the Philippines police executed no less than 24 individuals in different regions.
On Sunday, Duterte insulted ICC officials referring to them as ‘ bastards’ and expressed to his followers that he would surrender ‘willingly.’
Many still ardently support President Durrter for the brutalist approach on crime and he continues to wield significant political influence.
Read More: Pakistan and Afghanistan Border Tensions Flare Up with Night Long Heavy Firing
