“crimes against humanity”
Manila: Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has traveled to The Hague to support her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, after his arrest on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Duterte, 79, was detained at Manila’s airport on Tuesday and flown to the Netherlands to face charges of “crimes against humanity” related to his controversial war on drugs that resulted in thousands of deaths during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
Sara Duterte boarded a morning flight to Amsterdam on Wednesday, as confirmed by her office, with plans to help organize her father’s legal team. In a statement, she decried the arrest, calling it “oppression and persecution,” and describing it as a direct affront to Philippine sovereignty. She added, “This is a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino who believes in our nation’s independence.”
Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest marks a significant moment as he could become the first former Asian head of state to stand trial at the ICC. His legal team is currently assessing their options, including determining his whereabouts and seeking access to him. Former legal counsel Salvador Panelo announced that Duterte’s youngest daughter, Veronica Duterte, plans to file a habeas corpus petition with the Philippine Supreme Court in an effort to bring her father back to the country.
