Philippines sends its former president to the Hague

Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested in Manila on an ICC warrant charging him with crimes against humanity.

The case relates to Duterte’s deadly ‘war on drugs’, which he oversaw as president of the Philippines and Davao mayor.

Rights groups say many of the estimated 30,000 killed were not dealers or users, but children and other civilians unrelated to the drug trade.

Although the Philippines withdrew from the ICC when the inquiry was announced in 2019, the warrant says the court maintains jurisdiction as the alleged crimes occurred while the country was still a member.

Within hours of his detention by Philippines police, Duterte was flown to the Hague where he will be put on trial.

After seeking the arrests of Netanyahu and Putin without success in the past two years, the court will want this to be a case seen through to conclusion.