Ex-President Duterte boards plane bound for The Hague for ICC trial

Metro Manila, Philippines - Ex-President Rodrigo Duterte has boarded on Tuesday night (March 11) a chartered plane that will take him to The Hague in Netherlands for his trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC), his lawyer said.

The announcement by the former president’s counsel Martin Delgra came past 8 p.m. in a dramatic series of events that began Tuesday morning from the time Duterte’s plane from Hong Kong landed in Manila.

Duterte was arrested by Philippine authorities who served a warrant issued by The Hague-based ICC and was whisked away to Villamor Airbase before noon.

Shortly before Delgra’s press statement, Duterte’s daughter Sara Duterte – who is also the incumbent Vice President – issued a press release saying her father is being “forcibly taken” to The Hague and is being “denied his fundamental rights”.

“This act shows the world that this government is willing to abandon its own citizen and betray the very essence of our sovereignty and national dignity,” the vice president said.

Duterte and his former police chief-turned-senator Bato dela Rosa have filed a petition before the Supreme Court to challenge the government’s cooperation with The Hague-based tribunal.

According to ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti, a person arrested under an ICC warrant should be flown to The Hague "as soon as possible."

The Palace earlier confirmed that the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Manila received a copy of the ICC warrant before Duterte’s return from Hong Kong.

Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon served the arrest warrant at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after Duterte arrived from Hong Kong past 9 a.m. Tuesday for a thanksgiving event.

Duterte has been under ICC investigation for his bloody drug war campaign during his presidential term. - With reports from NewsWatch Plus multiplatform producer Faith Ragasa