Former President Rodrigo Duterte was placed on a plane just hours after receiving an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC). But what does this mean? Here’s a breakdown in simple terms:
🔹 What Happened?
Duterte was at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City when authorities served him the ICC warrant. This came after he arrived from Hong Kong. Soon after, he was seen boarding a private jet, accompanied by former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
🔹 Where Is He Going?
Reports say he’s headed to the Netherlands, where the ICC is based. The ICC is an international court that investigates crimes like war crimes and crimes against humanity.
🔹 What Is Duterte Saying?
Before leaving, Duterte went live on Instagram with his daughter, Kitty. He insisted that only Philippine courts should prosecute him, not the ICC.
His words:
🔸 “If I did something wrong, prosecute me in the Philippines. Let Filipino judges and prosecutors handle my case. If I have to go to jail, it should be in my own country.”
He also argued that the ICC has no right to arrest him because the Philippines withdrew from the ICC treaty (the Rome Statute) in 2018, which took effect in 2019.
🔹 Can the ICC Still Arrest Him?
Even though the Philippines left the ICC, the country’s Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the government must still cooperate with ICC investigations for crimes committed when the country was still a member.
🔹 What’s Next?
Duterte’s arrest could be a historic moment. The world is watching closely to see what happens next—will he face trial at the ICC, or will the Philippine government push back?
