**Meta:** Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte faces arrest for crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs.
**Content:**
### Duterte’s Departure to Face ICC Charges
**Who:** Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
**What:** Departed Manila for The Hague following an arrest warrant
**When:** Plane took off at 11:03 PM local time on Tuesday
**Where:** En route to The Hague, Netherlands
**Why:** To face charges of crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has left Manila on a flight to The Hague, just hours after receiving an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning the fatalities from his controversial “war on drugs.” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed the flight’s departure during a press conference, stating, “The plane is en route to The Hague in the Netherlands, allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs.”
Duterte’s youngest daughter, Veronica Duterte, expressed her discontent on social media, claiming that the plane was used to “kidnap” her father. The ICC has accused Duterte of crimes against humanity due to his anti-drug operations, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of up to 30,000 individuals, primarily men from impoverished urban areas.
### Arrest Details
Duterte was apprehended at Manila’s main airport after returning from Hong Kong. The presidential palace stated, “Early in the morning, Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC. As of now, he is under the custody of authorities.” Video footage showed Duterte, who is nearing his 80th birthday, being assisted onto the plane by security personnel.
Despite previously being allied with Duterte’s daughter Sara, President Marcos had refused to cooperate with the ICC investigation until recent tensions arose between the two families. He stated, “I am confident the arrest was proper, correct and followed all necessary legal procedures.”
### Reactions from the Duterte Family
Sara Duterte commented on the situation, saying she had “no message” for Marcos and emphasized, “If you are a Filipino, you will never obey the foreigners inside your own country.” In a video shared by GMA, Duterte was seen resisting arrest, stating, “You will just have to kill me. I won’t allow you to take the side of the white foreigners.”
Philippine police reported the deployment of 379 personnel to the airport and other strategic locations. After his arrest, Duterte insisted that he should be tried in Philippine courts, stating, “If I committed a sin, prosecute me in Philippine courts.”
### Conclusion
As the situation unfolds, many are left wondering how this legal battle will impact the Philippines and its political landscape. Will Duterte’s return to the ICC lead to significant changes in the country’s approach to drug-related crimes?
**FAQs:**
**Q: What charges is Rodrigo Duterte facing?**
A: Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity related to his anti-drug campaign, which resulted in thousands of deaths.
**Alt Text:** Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte boarding a plane for The Hague.
**URL Slug:** rodrigo-duterte-arrest-icc-hague
