MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in The Hague, Netherlands, on Wednesday, stepping onto foreign soil and into the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he faces scrutiny over his controversial drug war that left thousands dead during his tenure. The dramatic handover by Philippine authorities marks a pivotal moment for the firebrand leader, whose unapologetic policies once galvanized his nation but now place him at the center of an international legal reckoning.
Duterte touched down at Rotterdam Airport at 4:56 p.m. Central European Time (11:56 p.m. Philippine time) aboard a chartered flight, RP-C5219, accompanied by Philippine law enforcement officials, according to a statement from the Philippine Embassy in The Netherlands. At the airport, his custody was formally transferred to the ICC’s Judicial Cooperation Unit, a seamless operation reflecting months of diplomatic and legal coordination.
An ICC nurse, part of the reception team, immediately conferred with Duterte’s personal nurse to assess his medical needs—a sign of the court’s attention to the 79-year-old’s health, which has been a point of concern in recent years. The embassy noted that this information was relayed to an ICC medical doctor, who will oversee a comprehensive check-up upon Duterte’s arrival at the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen, a coastal district of The Hague.
“The embassy has extended all necessary consular assistance to the former president and his delegation,” the statement read, detailing efforts to ensure Duterte’s comfort in the chilly Dutch climate. Embassy staff provided winter clothing, additional garments, and care packages to Duterte and his team, a gesture underscoring Manila’s commitment to its former leader even as he faces international justice.
Duterte’s arrival in The Hague follows years of tension between the Philippines and the ICC, which launched an investigation into his administration’s anti-drug campaign—a signature policy that rights groups claim resulted in extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspected drug users and dealers. Duterte, who left office in 2022, has repeatedly dismissed the ICC’s jurisdiction, once famously declaring he would “rather rot in jail” than face its proceedings. His voluntary surrender now, however, suggests a shift in strategy—or circumstance.
Among those accompanying Duterte was former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who has been granted a 15-day visa by Dutch authorities to serve as Duterte’s counsel. Medialdea is scheduled to visit the ex-president on Thursday at the ICC Detention Center, a facility known for housing high-profile figures awaiting trial. Meanwhile, Duterte’s nurse and aide, along with the law enforcement escorts, were issued two-day visas to rest before their return to the Philippines.
The embassy emphasized its proactive role in safeguarding Duterte’s welfare, having urged ICC and Dutch officials to closely monitor his medical condition. As a practical measure, ICC officials provided Duterte with a list of embassy contacts reachable by mobile phone—a lifeline for consular support during his detention.
Duterte’s appearance before the ICC is a rare instance of a former head of state facing the court’s authority, and it reignites debates over accountability, sovereignty, and the legacy of his six-year presidency. Supporters view him as a decisive leader who tackled crime with an iron fist; critics decry a reign marked by human rights abuses. Now, in the sterile confines of the ICC Detention Center, the man once dubbed “The Punisher” awaits the next chapter of his story—one that will unfold under the world’s watchful eye.
