Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been forcibly taken onto a plane bound for The Hague, according to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, after a dramatic arrest following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. The arrest stems from his role in a violent anti-drug campaign that led to thousands of deaths in the country.
On Tuesday, March 11, Sara Duterte expressed her outrage on Instagram, stating that her father, who is 79 years old, was being “forcibly taken” onto the plane without regard for his health condition.
“They are taking him out on a plane by force without considering his health conditions,” she wrote, adding that her father was headed to The Hague for an ICC trial.
In a separate statement to the Philippine Star, Sara called the actions against her father “oppression and persecution,” asserting that what was happening was not justice. “This is not justice — this is oppression and persecution,” she said.
Duterte’s arrest came shortly after his return to Manila from Hong Kong. The former president, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, is facing charges of crimes against humanity linked to his brutal war on drugs.
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His administration’s crackdown led to the deaths of over 6,000 people, according to police data, though human rights groups claim the actual death toll could be much higher due to extrajudicial killings.
The ICC has been investigating Duterte for his role in the widespread violence that became a hallmark of his presidency.
The country’s harsh drug policies gained both support and condemnation, with many praising Duterte’s tough stance on crime, while others, including human rights organizations, denounced the violence and disregard for human rights.
The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, but the court continued its investigation into Duterte’s alleged crimes. Now, with his arrest and deportation to face international charges, the case continues to unfold in the spotlight.
