Sara Duterte Travels to The Hague to Support Father in ICC Case
Duterte, 79, was detained at Manila's airport on Tuesday and flown to the Netherlands to face charges of "crimes against humanity" related to his controversial war on drugs that resulted in thousands of deaths during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
Sara Duterte boarded a morning flight to Amsterdam on Wednesday, as confirmed by her office, with plans to help organize her father's legal team. In a statement, she decried the arrest, calling it "oppression and persecution," and describing it as a direct affront to Philippine sovereignty. She added, 'This is a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino who believes in our nation's independence."
Rodrigo Duterte's arrest marks a significant moment as he could become the first former Asian head of state to stand trial at the ICC. His legal team is currently assessing their options, including determining his whereabouts and seeking access to him. Former legal counsel Salvador Panelo announced that Duterte's youngest daughter, Veronica Duterte, plans to file a habeas corpus petition with the Philippine Supreme Court in an effort to bring her father back to the country.
While the Philippine government has complied with international obligations to Interpol, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended the actions surrounding Duterte's arrest. He emphasized that the move was in line with the country's commitments to the global policing agency.
The ICC has been investigating Duterte's role in the war on drugs since 2018, alleging that his administration's operations violated international law by targeting drug suspects for execution without due process. During his presidency, Duterte repeatedly urged police forces to kill drug suspects and encouraged resistance to justify deadly force. Official police records indicate that more than 7,000 people were killed during anti-drug operations under Duterte's leadership.
In addition to her father's legal battle, Sara Duterte's trip to The Hague comes amid political turmoil at home. She was recently impeached by the Philippine House of Representatives, with accusations ranging from misuse of public funds to involvement in an assassination plot against President Marcos. Sara has denied all allegations, calling the impeachment proceedings politically motivated.
As the former president faces international scrutiny, family members and activists have continued their protests against his drug war. In the wake of his arrest, supporters of the victims who died during the war on drugs held a candlelit vigil in Quezon City, calling for justice for those killed under his administration.
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