Former Philippines president, Rodrigo Duterte, has taken responsibility for his government’s controversial “war on drugs” in a video message filmed on board a plane just before his arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC). This marks his first public statement to the Philippines since his arrest on Tuesday.
In the video, Duterte stated, “Whatever happened in the past, I will stand in front of our law enforcement and the military. I said this already, that I will protect you, and I will be responsible for everything.” He acknowledged the legal proceedings would be lengthy but assured the public that he would continue to serve the country, saying, “This will be a long legal proceeding. But I say to you, I will continue to serve the country. So be it. If that is my destiny. Thank you.”
Duterte, who has previously denied apologizing for his violent anti-drug campaigns—alleged to have resulted in the deaths of as many as 30,000 people—landed at Rotterdam airport on Wednesday and was taken into custody by Dutch authorities. The ICC confirmed that they have taken custody of the former leader, with the court’s chief prosecutor calling it a significant step in ensuring accountability for the victims of severe crimes under ICC jurisdiction.
Duterte is the first Asian leader to face an arrest warrant from the ICC. The court accused him of being indirectly responsible for the crime against humanity of murder, allegedly committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019. A hearing will be scheduled for Duterte’s initial appearance before the court to confirm his identity and the language he prefers for the proceedings. It is unclear when a trial will commence.
Supporters of Duterte gathered at The Hague Penitentiary Institution, waving the Philippines flag and chanting “bring him back,” indicating the former president still has a strong support base, especially in the southern regions of the country. His daughter and vice president, Sara Duterte, arrived in The Hague to offer her support.
However, Duterte’s legal team has filed a petition accusing the government of “kidnapping” him and demanding his return to the Philippines. The team argues that the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019 negates the ICC’s jurisdiction. The ICC has disagreed, asserting that it still has jurisdiction for alleged crimes that occurred before the withdrawal.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has a complex political relationship with Sara Duterte, expressed confidence in the legality of Duterte’s arrest, stating it followed all necessary legal procedures.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/13/rodrigo-duterte-former-philippines-president-video-message-icc-arrest-over-war-on-drugs-ntwnfb
