Former President Rodrigo Duterte embarked Tuesday evening on a chartered flight via private jet, which left at 11:03 p.m. bound for The Hague, Netherlands to face members of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Duterte was accused of committing crimes against humanity in connection with state sanctioned killings during his administration. The ICC served a warrant for his arrest through the Interpol.
In a video footage shared online attributed to Lieutenant General Filmore Bondilles Escobal, Duterte was seen boarding the aircraft with former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and other individuals believed to be security officers.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Director Major General Nicolas Torre III and Central Luzon Director Brigadier General Jean Fajardo were also seen assisting in the transfer of Duterte to Interpol authorities.
The aircraft arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City earlier this evening following reports that Duterte was about to be transferred to ICC authorities. He is expected to be put on trial over alleged unexplained deaths of civilians and alleged criminals during his war on drugs between 2011 to early 2019.
Vice President Sara Duterte decried this development in a statement, calling it an “oppression and persecution.” She claimed her father was unable to assert his rights before local judicial authorities. Her sister, Kitty, also said in a social media post that their father was taken.
“They took my dad from us, put him on a plane and wouldn’t say where to. [P]eople, wake up,” the youngest Duterte said in an Instagram story.
The Duterte camp through legal counsel Israelito Torreon filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) this afternoon to stop local authorities from turning the former president over to the ICC, citing its lack of jurisdiction in the Philippines since it has withdrawn from the Rome Statute in 2019.
A photo was released showing Duterte and Medialdea and others onboard sitting calmly inside the plane while security around Villamor Air Base remains tight.
As this developed, Malacañang is reportedly preparing a press conference with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla to address the nation in light of this latest political development.
—With reports from Rachelle Tonelada, Pot Chavez and Agence France Presse
Editor’s Note: Updates were made throughout this post.