A Gulfstream G550 jet, believed to be carrying former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, has landed in Rotterdam, Netherlands, amid speculation that he is being transported to The Hague to face the International Criminal Court (ICC). The aircraft reportedly took off from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, fueling intense global attention on Duterte’s legal fate.
Duterte was under ICC investigation for his suspected role in the extrajudicial killings that were part of the Philippines’ war on drugs, which claimed thousands of lives. His daughter, Sara Duterte, said her father had been placed on an airplane but did not offer additional information regarding the circumstances of his travel or arrest.
Although Philippine officials have not yet issued an official statement, legal analysts indicate that Duterte’s relocation may represent a turning point in global accountability for state leaders. The ICC has been pursuing his prosecution for purported crimes against humanity, even after the Philippine government had tried to reject the court’s jurisdiction.
With global human rights organizations closely tracking the case, it is unknown whether Duterte will voluntarily appear before the ICC or further legal proceedings will transpire in his home country.
