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Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyers call for his return to Philippines after ICC arrest Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyers call for his return to Philippines after ICC arrest
(about 4 hours later)
Daughter accuses government of ‘kidnapping’ the former president as victims of his ‘war on drugs’ express jubilation over his arrest Daughter accuses government of ‘kidnapping’ ex-president as victims of ‘war on drugs’ express jubilation at arrest
Lawyers for the former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte have demanded that he be returned to Manila in a petition filed to the supreme court, as victims of the former leaders’ bloody “war on drugs” expressed jubilation. Lawyers for Rodrigo Duterte have demanded that he be returned to Manila in a petition filed to the supreme court, as victims of the former Philippine president’s bloody “war on drugs” expressed jubilation.
Duterte, who was flown to The Hague on Tuesday night to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to anti-drugs crackdowns is the first former Asian leader to be served an arrest warrant filed by the ICC. Activists say as many as 30,000 people were killed in the “war on drugs”. Duterte, who was flown to The Hague on Tuesday night to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to anti-drugs crackdowns, is the first former Asian leader to be served an arrest warrant filed by the ICC. Activists say as many as 30,000 people were killed in the “war on drugs”.
Lawyers for Duterte filed a petition on behalf of his youngest daughter, Veronica, accusing the government of “kidnapping”, and demanding it bring him back. Lawyers for Duterte, 79, filed a petition on behalf of his youngest daughter, Veronica, accusing the government of “kidnapping”, and demanding it bring him back.
Duterte’s plane is expected to land in the Netherlands at 10:59 local time. His eldest daughter Sara, the country’s vice-president, also left for Amsterdam on Wednesday morning, to help with his legal preparations. The plane thought to be carrying Duterte to the Netherlands stopped for several hours in Dubai on Wednesday, according to the flight tracking site flightradar24.com, and is due to land in Rotterdam at about 5pm local time (4pm GMT).
Carlos Conde, senior researcher at the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, said the developments were historic, and that it would be an understatement to say that victims felt ecstatic at his arrest. “This is something that’s totally unprecedented in the history of this country … not just in this country, [but] for Southeast Asia and even Asia,” he said. Duterte’s eldest daughter, Sara, the country’s vice-president, left for Amsterdam on Wednesday morning to help with his legal preparations.
“[Victim’s] spirits are bouyed, they’re very, very optimistic that this is something that can move along expeditiously in The Hague,” Conde said. “The victims here in the Philippines have pretty much lost faith in the domestic justice system, which has done so very little in terms of addressing their quest for justice. This is why they pinned their hopes on the ICC.” Carlos Conde, a senior researcher at the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, said the developments were historic, and that it would be an understatement to say that victims felt ecstatic at his arrest. “This is something that’s totally unprecedented in the history of this country … not just in this country, [but] for south-east Asia and even Asia,” he said.
An ICC spokesperson confirmed the arrest warrant on Tuesday and said an initial appearance hearing would be scheduled when Duterte was in court custody. “[Victims’] spirits are buoyed. They’re very, very optimistic that this is something that can move along expeditiously in The Hague,” Conde said. “The victims here in the Philippines have pretty much lost faith in the domestic justice system, which has done so very little in terms of addressing their quest for justice. This is why they pinned their hopes on the ICC.”
The timeline for a trial is unclear, but campaigners have called for proceedings to begin swiftly. Building the case had been a “very painstaking process” for victims, the families of victims and domestic human rights groups, Conde added.
An ICC spokesperson confirmed the arrest warrant on Tuesday and said an initial appearance hearing would be scheduled when Duterte was in court custody. The timeline for a trial is unclear, but campaigners have called for proceedings to begin swiftly.
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, which has represented the families of victims of the killings, said “victims’ pain from loss” had been, for the day, “eclipsed by joy and hope”.The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, which has represented the families of victims of the killings, said “victims’ pain from loss” had been, for the day, “eclipsed by joy and hope”.
Duterte’s arrest was symbolic of “a victory of the poor and marginalized, akin to that of David versus Goliath,” the lawyers group said, adding: “We still have to press on and work for his eventual conviction”. Duterte’s arrest was symbolic of “a victory of the poor and marginalised, akin to that of David versus Goliath,” the lawyers’ group said, adding: “We still have to press on and work for his eventual conviction.”
“There’s a feeling of simple joy at what is happening, and relief,” said Brother Jun Santiago, who set up Silingan Coffee, a small coffee shop to help give jobs to the families of victims of extrajudicial killings, and to provide a space to memorialise their stories. “There’s a feeling of simple joy at what is happening, and relief,” said Brother Jun Santiago, who set up Silingan Coffee, a small coffee shop, to help give jobs to the families of victims of extrajudicial killings, and to provide a space to memorialise their stories.
On Tuesday, the cafe offered discounted drinks to customers, to encourage people to visit and learn about the abuses that were committed under Duterte’s government. On Tuesday, the cafe offered discounted drinks to customers to encourage people to visit and learn about the abuses that were committed under Duterte’s government. Santiago described the arrest as a “first step to justice”.
Duterte’s arrest was widely celebrated among human rights groups, with the Philippine rights alliance Karapatan describing the development as “long overdue”. Duterte’s arrest was widely celebrated among human rights groups, with the Philippine rights alliance Karapatan describing the development as “long overdue”.
Duterte’s supporters have argued that, as the Philippines withdrew from the Rome statute in 2019, the ICC no longer has jurisdiction. However, the ICC has previously said it retains jurisdiction for alleged crimes that occurred in the country before its withdrawal. Duterte’s supporters have argued that, as the Philippines withdrew from the Rome statute in 2019, the ICC no longer has jurisdiction. However, the ICC has previously said it retains jurisdiction for alleged crimes that occurred in the country before its withdrawal.
President Ferdinand Marcos said the arrest came at the request of the ICC. “I am confident the arrest was proper, correct and followed all necessary legal procedures,” he told media after Duterte’s departure on Tuesday night. “We did not help the international criminal court in any way. The arrest was made in compliance with Interpol.” The official Facebook page of the vice-president’s office shared an image of a red ribbon with the text “BRING PRRD HOME” – referring to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told reporters on Tuesday night that he was confident “the arrest was proper, correct and followed all necessary legal procedures”. He added: “We did not help the international criminal court in any way. The arrest was made in compliance with Interpol.”