THE HAGUE/ROTTERDAM: Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday, it said, after issuing a warrant for his arrest over his deadly crackdown on drugs.

“Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte... was surrendered to the custody of the International Criminal Court,” the ICC said in a statement. “He was arrested by the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines in accordance with an arrest warrant issued... for charges of murder as a crime against humanity.”

A spokesman for the International Criminal Court confirmed that former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte had arrived on Wednesday in the Netherlands to face charges of crimes against humanity over his war on drugs. “I confirm the plane landed,” Fadi El Abdallah told reporters, later confirming that Duterte was on board.

The ICC, based in The Hague, has said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe Duterte committed the crime against humanity of murder as an “indirect co-perpetrator” during the anti-drug campaign that rights groups estimate killed tens of thousands.

The 79-year-old is the first Asian former head of state to face charges at the ICC, which rules on the world’s worst crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Once in ICC custody, Duterte will be taken to a detention centre before an initial appearance likely to be scheduled in the coming days.

The centre, located close to the North Sea coast, offers each prisoner an individual cell equipped with a computer to work on their case, along with an outdoor exercise area.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2025