Written by Carlo Alfonso S. Sales and Maria Georgina T. Silva
In a historic turn of events, Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD) was arrested upon arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last March 11, 2025, following an International Criminal Court’s (ICC) warrant for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s war on drugs. The Philippine government surrendered him to Interpol the following day, and he was flown to The Hague, Netherlands, where he is now in ICC custody awaiting trial at The Hague Penitentiary Institution in Scheveningen. This marks the first time a Philippine head of state has been indicted in an international tribunal, with profound implications for the nation’s legal and political landscape.
The Bloody Paper Trail
The ICC’s investigation focused on alleged atrocities committed during his administration’s drug war and earlier incidents involving the Davao Death Squad. Covering the period from November 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019, the investigation included allegations of murder, torture, and rape. The ICC prosecutor’s application for an arrest warrant highlighted these acts as a “representative sample of the multiple acts of violence” associated with Duterte’s policies. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I issued the warrant specifically for the crime against humanity of murder, finding reasonable grounds to believe Duterte is responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator.
The Duterte administration had previously resisted the ICC’s jurisdiction, citing the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019. The warrant was issued as a “secret” on March 7, 2025, and reclassified as “public” on March 11, 2025, leading to his arrest and surrender.
Details of Duterte’s apprehension reveal a complex coordination between Philippine authorities and Interpol despite the country’s exit from the ICC. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla clarified that the surrender was executed under Republic Act No. 9851, which addresses international humanitarian law, rather than the Rome Statute procedures.
Courtroom Chess
FPRRD appeared before the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I via video conference last March 14, 2025. The preliminary hearing for the confirmation of charges is set for September 23, 2025. His defense team, led by Nicholas Kaufman and Associate Counsel Dov Jacobs, are preparing for the proceedings. Additionally, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, an ICC-registered lawyer, is exploring legal avenues, including a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights regarding a Dutch law affecting the imprisonment of individuals over 80.
The Nation’s Outcry
Duterte’s arrest sparked a firestorm of responses across the political spectrum and public consciousness. Allies like Salvador Panelo and Harry Roque condemned the move as politically motivated, while Vice President Sara Duterte decried “state kidnapping.” She changed her profile pictures on social media to a red ribbon containing the text “BRING PRRD HOME 👊🏻”, triggering a social media blast and street protests by Diehard Duterte Supporters (DDS) from Davao City to The Hague, where over 5,000 DDS protested on March 23, 2025.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. denied claims of “political persecution,” stating the arrest was due to the Philippine government’s obligation to Interpol. Senators Francis Escudero and Jinggoy Estrada urged supporters to respect due process.
In contrast, many lawmakers, human rights advocates, and families of drug war victims view the arrest as a long-overdue step toward justice.
“Matagal na naming hinihintay na ito mahuli siya. Walong taon na,” said Nanette Castillo, whose 17-year-old son was killed in 2017. “Ngayon, baka maniwala uli ako na gumagana ang hustisya sa Pilipinas.”
The Reckoning Begins
In the wake of Duterte’s case, more individuals may be implicated, including nine unnamed alleged co-perpetrators cited by the ICC. Roque speculated that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa—former PNP chief who oversaw key police operations during the drug war—may be among them. The Philippine government has affirmed it will cooperate with the ICC in serving future arrest warrants if they are coursed through Interpol.
As the world watches, the Philippines faces hard questions about justice, impunity, and accountability. FPRRD’s indictment serves as a sobering reminder that the arc of the moral universe may be long, but it bends towards justice. His trial challenges the nation to see justice as a real reckoning—one that crosses oceans, outlasts political terms, and echoes in the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves.
THE BARRISTER 