Former president Rodrigo Duterte arrived in the Netherlands to face charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his role in the controversial “war on drugs” during his presidency.
The 79-year-old landed at Rotterdam Airport early Thursday (Manila time), where an ambulance was seen approaching the plane, according to media reports.
He is expected to be transferred to a detention facility on the Dutch coast and will appear before a judge within days for his initial hearing. If tried, he would become the first former Asian head of state to stand trial at the ICC.
The ICC’s arrest warrant alleges that Duterte, as president, created, funded, and armed death squads responsible for the killings of thousands of alleged drug users and dealers. His controversial anti-drug campaign, which began in 2016, has drawn widespread international condemnation for its high death toll.
The flight, initially scheduled to land in the Netherlands around 0600 GMT, was delayed after an extended layover in Dubai, where Duterte underwent medical checks.
His arrival has sparked divided reactions, with a small group of supporters gathering outside the ICC in The Hague, voicing their belief in his innocence and defending his controversial anti-drug campaign as a necessary measure to combat crime. Meanwhile, about 20 anti-Duterte protesters also assembled near the court building, holding banners critical of his policies.
Duterte’s trial could mark a pivotal moment in international justice as the ICC seeks to hold the former Philippine leader accountable for alleged crimes against humanity, though his defenders maintain his actions were driven by a commitment to public safety and order.