Philippine ex-president Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on accusations of murder and is facing extradition to The Hague. Despite his claims that he would not be affected by any legal action, Duterte was taken into custody after a Hong Kong rally where he faced no concerns about ICC arrest warrants.
Duterte’s team initially believed that any legal action against him would take place in the Philippines, but the ICC intervened and arrested him on Friday. The former leader made his first appearance before the court via video link, confirming his identity and age, and set for a hearing on September 23 to determine if the case can go to trial.
The arrest has sparked controversy in the Philippines, where Duterte remains popular among many citizens due to his “tough on crime” approach to drug trafficking. However, his family’s efforts to secure his release have been unsuccessful so far. The Duterte family has criticized the Marcos administration for its role in the arrest and extradition process.
Marcos has denied any involvement in the ICC’s decision to issue an arrest warrant against Duterte. He claims that the government cooperated with Interpol and followed its commitments, despite acknowledging the ICC’s jurisdiction over the Philippines after withdrawing it.
The ICC’s investigation found reasonable grounds to believe that Duterte bears criminal responsibility for murder, and his family is now seeking provisional release and expedited procedures for his detention. The former president has vowed to take responsibility for past actions and continue serving his country, despite facing potential deportation from the Philippines forever.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/duterte-swift-descent-punisher-president-093853843.html