Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, has been taken into custody by the International Criminal Court (ICC) following his arrest by Philippine authorities. The ICC confirmed his surrender on Wednesday after issuing an arrest warrant related to his controversial war on drugs.
Duterte, whose presidency was marked by a relentless anti-narcotics campaign, now faces charges of murder as a crime against humanity. The ICC’s statement emphasized that his detention was carried out in accordance with international legal procedures.
His crackdown on drugs, which reportedly led to thousands of extrajudicial killings, had long drawn criticism from human rights organizations worldwide. While Duterte repeatedly dismissed ICC jurisdiction over the Philippines, the latest development marks a significant turn in the pursuit of justice for alleged victims of his administration’s policies.
Upon arrival in Rotterdam, Netherlands, he was escorted by law enforcement officials, marking the beginning of what could be a historic legal battle.