Rodrigo Duterte's Arrest Is Achievement And Test For The ICC

Former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte at Villamor Military Air Base, Manila before being flown to The Hague, Netherlands after being arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Tuesday (11/3/2025). (NBC/PDPmen)

JAKARTA Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on Tuesday (11/3/2025) on charges of crimes against humanity under a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Duterte himself was arrested at Manila Airport shortly after his arrival from Hong Kong. He had refused to apologize for the brutal anti-drug acts while still serving as President of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022.

However, a few hours later Duterte was found to have been on a chartered jet to The Hague in the Netherlands, where the ICC convened.

Duterte's arrest is certainly in the spotlight of the world. On the one hand, this arrest is considered an important victory for the ICC, an independent judicial body that investigates and hears people accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression from its headquarters located in Den Hag.

But on the other hand, Duterte's arrest also shows the boundaries of court power. Although the jurisdiction is broad, the court cannot make its own arrests. The court relies on the cooperation of the national government to carry out its warrant, which makes it dependent on domestic politics.

The ICC investigation into Duterte rests on alleged crimes against humanity related to the killing of people in the fight against drugs he fought while Mayor of Davao City and then President of the Philippines.

Rodrigo Duterte, 77, led the Philippines in June 2016. In his campaign, he promised to strongly eradicate drugs and various forms of crime. However, his policy of fighting drugs led to the death of suspected addicts and drug dealers in a controversial police operation.

According to a number of sources, the official number of suspected drug dealers and users killed during July 2016 and April 2022 was 6,248 people. But the Has Asasi Manusia (HAM) group believes the actual number can reach 30,000 people.

But the ICC itself is actually in the spotlight of the world today. Duterte's arrest case occurred when the ICC was being sanctioned by the President of the United States (US) Donald Trump.

Trump tidak senang dengan keputusan pengadilan yang mengeluarkan surat perintah penangkapan untuk Perdana Menteri Israel Benjamin Netanyahu yang dituding melakukan kejahatan selama perang Gaza.

Philippine activists held candles during protests in support of the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Tuesday (11/3/2025). (Special)

In addition to Netanyahu, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said the fact that an arrest warrant had been carried out was "important to the victims" and evidence that "international punishments are not as weak as some may think.

Rodrigo Duterte's arrest was possible because he was no longer in office and was politically considered weak. On the other hand, there is no possibility that the ICC arrest warrant for PM Benjamin Netanyahu will be carried out for many reasons.

On paper, the ICC has the authority to order the arrest of anyone suspected of having committed the crimes listed in the Rome Statute, against citizens from ICC member states or committing crimes in the territory of a member state.

The Philippines itself actually left the ICC in 2019, on Duterte's instructions when he was still president. However, the panel of ICC judges found that the court still had jurisdictions going on before the withdrawal.

Rodrigo Duterte may expect protection from his successor, Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., who had promised to protect him from international investigations. But the dispute between Sara Duterte, vice president of the Philippines and daughter, and Ferdinand Marcos made Bongbong change his mind.

The relationship between these two clans is cracked, as is protection for Duterte from international courts. Marcos then allowed the ICC to conduct an investigation in his country.

After successfully arresting former President Rodrigo Duterte, who has the potential to become the former first head of state in Asia to be tried by the ICC, the public is now urging the public to urge the ICC to arrest other figures who are also facing similar charges, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Launching The New York Times, apart from being a success, Duterte's arrest is also said to be an ICC bahi test, as the court has issued a sura arrest warrant for Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Myanmar's military junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing.

Executive Vice President ofturbation Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a US think tank, Tirta Parsi responded to Rodrigo Duterte's arrest.

"Maybe Netanyahu and Gallant will be next," he wrote in The New York Times.

Meanwhile, professor at City University of New York Danny Shaw uploaded a video of Duterte's arrest, while questioning Why don't they arrest Netanyahu?

Project leader at the Dutch peace organization PAX Wim Zwijnenburg, gave support for the ICC's move to arrest Duterte. But he also urged the agency to dare to drag Netanyahu to their base.

"Good job ICC. Now do the same to Netanyahu. Take him to The Hague for war crimes and the killing of thousands of civilians," he said.

In a hearing discussing the Situation in the Palestinian State, the ICC stated that Netanyahu and Gallant were responsible for crimes in the form of hunger as methods of war, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.

The blockade to Gaza, which blocks access to food, water, fuel, and medical supplies, is said to have created conditions that damage civilian life, resulting in deaths from malnutrition and dehydration.