Former president Rodrigo Duterte was flown to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, on a chartered plane late Tuesday night, just hours after his detention.
The development followed an arrest warrant issued by the ICC in connection with his controversial “war on drugs” campaign, which Duterte has repeatedly challenged.
A social media post by Martin Delgra, one of Duterte’s lawyers, included an image of the small aircraft that transported the 79-year-old former leader. Former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, a longtime ally of Duterte, was among those who accompanied him on the flight.
The ICC’s arrest warrant stems from allegations related to Duterte’s anti-drug initiative, a centerpiece of his presidency that has drawn widespread criticism for its alleged human rights violations. Duterte has consistently denied the accusations and questioned the court’s jurisdiction over the matter.
As of Wednesday, the Presidential Communications Office has not released an official statement regarding Duterte’s departure or the circumstances surrounding his transfer to The Hague.
Meanwhile, the former president’s final wish to see his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, before being sent to the Netherlands was denied by Maj. Gen. Nicholas Torre, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), according to the Duterte camp.