FORMER Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will face a local court before any potential transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, according to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro. This preliminary step aims to verify the legality of his arrest within the Philippines.
Castro explained at a Wednesday press briefing that the local court will assess the arrest procedure. Only if the process is deemed valid will Duterte be extradited to the ICC. She stated, “From what I know, he will be brought to a local court to determine if the process of his arrest was proper and if it’s already validated that it was correct, he will be brought to The Hague, to the ICC.”
The potential penalties for a conviction on crimes against humanity, Castro noted, are at the ICC’s discretion—ranging from 30 years imprisonment to life imprisonment.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. confirmed that Interpol Manila received the official ICC warrant shortly before Duterte’s arrival from Hong Kong on Tuesday. He underscored the government’s adherence to international obligations, stating the arrest was executed because “Interpol asked us to do it and we have commitments.” President Marcos Jr. further asserted the arrest’s legality, emphasizing that “every single necessary procedure” was followed.
Duterte’s plane, after departing the Philippines at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday, made a layover in Dubai at approximately 8:03 a.m. Wednesday (Manila time).
