Duterte's son promises to 'fight back' against ICC arrest of his father
Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has been taken to The Hague to face charges related to crimes against humanity. Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte, the mayor of Davao City and son of the former president, has pledged to “fight back” against...
TroibNews 
Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has been taken to The Hague to face charges related to crimes against humanity.
Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte, the mayor of Davao City and son of the former president, has pledged to “fight back” against his father's detention by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He has urged supporters to “stand up” against what he describes as the illegal arrest of his father.
The 79-year-old Rodrigo Duterte was apprehended by Philippines authorities at Manila’s international airport last week before being transported to The Hague to stand trial for charges stemming from his controversial ‘war on drugs.’
The ICC's arrest warrant alleges that the former president orchestrated “death squads” responsible for executing suspected drug dealers and users from 2016 to 2022.
Baste Duterte has expressed concerns that his father's arrest “sets a dangerous precedent,” and several other Philippine officials have also criticized the former leader's extradition.
“We will stand up and we will fight back,” he stated.
The ICC initiated an investigation into Duterte’s anti-drug campaign in 2018, probing allegations of extrajudicial killings and instances of police brutality. Activists have claimed that innocent individuals, including children, were among those killed, while police contended that their actions were taken in self-defense. Duterte has denied any wrongdoing but acknowledged the violent nature of the crackdown. Official figures indicate that 6,200 people were killed, though experts believe the actual number is significantly higher.
Some human rights advocates argue that the former president's arrest is illegal because the Philippines, under Duterte's directives, formally withdrew from the ICC in 2019. The court in The Hague maintains that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a signatory.
Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team has submitted a petition claiming that the Philippine government engaged in “kidnapping,” asserting that his extradition breached both domestic law and ICC regulations.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte, the mayor of Davao City and son of the former president, has pledged to “fight back” against his father's detention by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He has urged supporters to “stand up” against what he describes as the illegal arrest of his father.
The 79-year-old Rodrigo Duterte was apprehended by Philippines authorities at Manila’s international airport last week before being transported to The Hague to stand trial for charges stemming from his controversial ‘war on drugs.’
The ICC's arrest warrant alleges that the former president orchestrated “death squads” responsible for executing suspected drug dealers and users from 2016 to 2022.
Baste Duterte has expressed concerns that his father's arrest “sets a dangerous precedent,” and several other Philippine officials have also criticized the former leader's extradition.
“We will stand up and we will fight back,” he stated.
The ICC initiated an investigation into Duterte’s anti-drug campaign in 2018, probing allegations of extrajudicial killings and instances of police brutality. Activists have claimed that innocent individuals, including children, were among those killed, while police contended that their actions were taken in self-defense. Duterte has denied any wrongdoing but acknowledged the violent nature of the crackdown. Official figures indicate that 6,200 people were killed, though experts believe the actual number is significantly higher.
Some human rights advocates argue that the former president's arrest is illegal because the Philippines, under Duterte's directives, formally withdrew from the ICC in 2019. The court in The Hague maintains that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a signatory.
Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team has submitted a petition claiming that the Philippine government engaged in “kidnapping,” asserting that his extradition breached both domestic law and ICC regulations.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
