The arrest of ex Philippines president Duterte by the ICC

[aioc]

I hold to the concept that the criminal must be punished. And neither his former merits, nor his rank, nor his age, nor his religion or sexual orientation, nor anything can be an “indulgence” if he has committed crimes, especially very terrible crimes ! This is the power of the rule of law - the inevitability of punishment for crimes committed.

Duterte made it clear even from the start that he is in full responsibility for whatever the outcome. Everyone has heard him say that on the news, on speaking engagements, all he wants is for him to be tried in a local court, get imprisoned in his native land, and die in his beloved country.
Honestly, it was safer to walk on the street even in the middle of the night in the Philippines during Duterte's regime, but now you are at risk of getting robbed, killed, or kidnapped even in broad daylight, and besides, Duterte's order for the police to only shoot when the drug dealers want to put up a fight; the other corrupt policemen who want to get higher rank disobeyed the order.

[Ziskinberg]

Can someone in the know post the full scoop? It would make things much clearer for the rest of us.

This is from ICC, so you can read the information that favors their judgement.

https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-philippines-rodrigo-roa-duterte-icc-custody

What people say outside the Philippines is one thing, but only those living in the country can truly say whether the drug war was effective or not. And looking at all the protests happening now, it shows that many believe it was effective even though there were casualties, which is expected in such a bloody war against drugs.

If you understand how corrupt Philippine politics is, you’ll see why all of this is happening.

Just as an example. there were drug lord politicians, like the mayor of Ozamiz, who held power for decades because their drug business was so strong that no rival politician dared to challenge them. But when Duterte took office, that politician was killed, and the city is now free from their control.

Maybe Duterte’s approach was rushed, but considering how slow the Philippine justice system is especially when dealing with powerful drug lords in government, it was probably necessary.

With the majority of people showing support, I still believe that Duterte was a good leader.

[ultrloa]

I know almost nothing about politics in the Philippines, but I have heard of allegations that a former president was involved in corruption (not Duterte I think but the father of the current president, who himself used to be president I think). Can someone in the know post the full scoop? It would make things much clearer for the rest of us.

Full scoop about corruption done by the father of current President?

People could see the history written in Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unexplained_wealth_of_the_Marcos_family

He's a dictator and human right abuser https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_abuses_of_the_Marcos_dictatorship

Now he's son(Current President) is following his tracks and allowing rampant corruption especially on questionable budget allocation on each government departments https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/philippine-president-links-budget-petition-to-destabilization-plot/

Now Philippines is feared to go under Martial Law again and many people is going outside protesting showing their huge disappointment especially for what they have done on their former President.

[mirakal]

If you check the comments from people worldwide on social media, you’ll see that many support Duterte and are condemning the ICC for their actions. The blame is also being pointed at the current president, suggesting that this was all politically planned.

They have the reason to be angry. If you remember, it was Duterte who buried President Marcos' father in the burial for the heroes, and this is what Duterte got for helping the Marcoses bury their dead in the place they wanted to bury them.
I cannot think of any politician who can match Sara Duterte's popularity, so Marcos will do everything to stay in power or help his cousin become the next president, so he sent the father to the ICC and he will orchestrate Sara Duterte's impeachment, so the Marcoses kind will stay in power and possibly do what his father did.

Now the question is, do Filipino citizens still want them to stay in their position? It’s not Duterte vs. Marcos anymore, but as what we’ve seen all over the news, it’s already Marcos vs Filipinos and that’s something that these Marcoses have no control anymore. Even if they remain in their positions until 2028, but after that, surely they’ll have no place in the government anymore.

[Botnake]

What is happening now really saddened all the Filipino communities inside and outside the Philippines. I know everyone is aware of this, Duterte has been arrested and now currently detained in The Hague,Netherlands and worst is, based on what we’ve seen on the news, the arrest wasn’t done in a due process but more likely like a kidnapping so that Duterte will be out in the Philippines as sooner as possible.

My personal thought on this, this arrest is no longer about Duterte on his case about extra judicial killings, but more on getting rid of Duterte so he can’t protect anymore his daughter, the current Vice-President, since Marcos and all his allies are now threatened about the massive support of the Filipinos that would put them down if Sara Duterte will become the newly elected President by 2028 election.

[Darker45]

Politically, this is wrong. Economically, this is also wrong.

The Marcos-led Philippine government, by delivering no less than a former president to a foreign court to be tried before foreign judges, is broadcasting to the entire world that the country's justice system isn't working. Why, now, would investors be risking their money in a country that isn't even able to make the wheels of justice working?

Locally, this is causing a stir in the populace. In times of peace, progress and development thrives. In times of turmoil, which this political decision caused, people see and feel uncertainty, withhold spending and investing, postponing business plans, and so on.

[stadus]

Politically, this is wrong. Economically, this is also wrong.

The Philippines will struggle if foreign investors pull out due to the chaos happening in the country. The Marcos administration may seem confident that they have everything under control, but in reality, they might be outnumbered not just by the rebels, but also by civilians who see their actions as corrupt.

If things keep going this way, it won’t be long before something happens that they never expected. 

[Fiatless]

Ordering your police force to murder drug dealers doesn't make you much better than the drug dealers. It's a cop out, a cheap populist move that doesn't actually fix any problems in the long term because people will still take drugs and somebody will still supply that demand - maybe with a little bit more caution. You just end up escalating violence, because if drug dealers know they are going to be killed on site they will have no hesitation in killing police in return, it was a pretty dumb move. All these years later, do you think the Philippines is significantly safer after this legacy or is it pretty much the same? This reeks of political distraction games and making him sound like a "hard man" without actually helping much.

Duterte style of fighting drugs and gangs was also adopted by El Salvador Bukele. Maybe the El Salvador strongman might be in line to appear in the Hague. But Duterte crime eradication style has been critised by many because it was selective and targeted only the poor drug dealers while the big drug pedllers were spared.

I think due to nations uproar and rallies in different parts of the country, the uproar will cause for some travel advisory from different countries that shall halt their citizens to visit as tourists in the Philippines.

Tourism is one of the biggest contributor on any country's economy and that is why the significant impact of travel advisory will be reflected to the economy for the sake of tourist's safety.

This is the problem when there is political tension in a country. These politicians have enough to survive but the common men are the people who will suffer from these political conflicts. This tension will discourage investors which will lead to unemployment.

[alani123]

Duterte was a corrupt idiot as president. He told soldiers that if they rsped women it's ok and he would cover them...

Seriously, where can we see that he said that?

Duterte was a corrupt idiot as president. He told soldiers that if they rsped women it's ok and he would cover them...

He's got a foul mouth but I don't think that he's said it. But AFAIK, he's said some rape joke before but I forgot specifically what he's said or it wasn't a rape joke but something like 'kiss and women'.

You can read a lot about his foul behaviour in international press
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/27/rodrigo-duterte-jokes-to-soldiers-that-they-can-women-with-impunity

“If you go down, I go down. But for this martial law and the consequences of martial law and the ramifications of martial law, I and I alone would be responsible, just do your job I will take care of the rest,” Duterte said on Friday, according to a president’s office transcript.

“I’ll imprison you myself,” he said, referring to any soldiers who commit violations, then he joked: “If you had raped three, I will admit it, that’s on me.”

The charges against him for extra judicial killings are very real and this is just an example of his thought process. He's the ultimate "the ends justify the means" type but not only that, he was also ruthless. He'd give complete impunity to the military so long he was in power, because he knew they would support him. Funnily enough now 7 thousand police chased after him. So much for the loyalty he'd have with the military... Police always clings to power even in the worst situations. They wouldn't save an ex president when the current government is after him. Especially since Marcos has a family feud with Duterte.

[Taskford]

Politically, this is wrong. Economically, this is also wrong.

The Marcos-led Philippine government, by delivering no less than a former president to a foreign court to be tried before foreign judges, is broadcasting to the entire world that the country's justice system isn't working. Why, now, would investors be risking their money in a country that isn't even able to make the wheels of justice working?

Locally, this is causing a stir in the populace. In times of peace, progress and development thrives. In times of turmoil, which this political decision caused, people see and feel uncertainty, withhold spending and investing, postponing business plans, and so on.

This is the craziest thing a person could do since by surrendering a Filipino citizen even if he is your enemy is like surrendering your sovereignty. This is really a big slap for the justice system of the Philippines since its like the current President tells that they are worthless and he need foreign intervention just to make the case to proceed.

But this is clearly a political motivated attack and its clear that there's so many lapses on this arrest. For sure everything will be discussed if the hearing against the ex President would finally happen.

Its circulating over social media now that many people are protesting on that arrest and it seems this is the start chaos. With those troubles happening for sure this situation would affect their economy and other progress since there's nothing good result they can earn with this and they would just waste their time and resources with this political quarrels happening between this two leaders.
 

[bhadz]

Duterte was a corrupt idiot as president. He told soldiers that if they rsped women it's ok and he would cover them...

He's got a foul mouth but I don't think that he's said it. But AFAIK, he's said some rape joke before but I forgot specifically what he's said or it wasn't a rape joke but something like 'kiss and women'.

You can read a lot about his foul behaviour in international press
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/27/rodrigo-duterte-jokes-to-soldiers-that-they-can-women-with-impunity

“If you go down, I go down. But for this martial law and the consequences of martial law and the ramifications of martial law, I and I alone would be responsible, just do your job I will take care of the rest,” Duterte said on Friday, according to a president’s office transcript.

“I’ll imprison you myself,” he said, referring to any soldiers who commit violations, then he joked: “If you had raped three, I will admit it, that’s on me.”

Okay, there's also a quote in there that he apologized for what he has said. But he's sure a foul mouth.

The charges against him for extra judicial killings are very real and this is just an example of his thought process. He's the ultimate "the ends justify the means" type but not only that, he was also ruthless. He'd give complete impunity to the military so long he was in power, because he knew they would support him. Funnily enough now 7 thousand police chased after him. So much for the loyalty he'd have with the military... Police always clings to power even in the worst situations. They wouldn't save an ex president when the current government is after him.

He's increased the salary of the military and the policemen, he's gained them back the glory and respect that they need. But now, these men in uniform are being hated by the majority. There is no doubt about the EJKs, they were a collateral damage and he's not denying it. What he wants is to get trialed in a Philippine court and not in the ICC.

Especially since Marcos has a family feud with Duterte.

Himself is really a political guy. Duterte let his dad rest on the "grave of heroes" after how many years his dead body stayed on their house in the Northern part. And now, this is the thanks for his action. Anyway, it's all political for sure. I'm just watching out what's happening and not joining any rallies. Our social media is full of these politics but there is more issue that we people need to look at. And aside from the stolen money that I've mentioned, also about the biggest sale of our gold reserve and we don't even know where the money is right now.

[coin-investor]

This is the craziest thing a person could do since by surrendering a Filipino citizen even if he is your enemy is like surrendering your sovereignty. This is really a big slap for the justice system of the Philippines since its like the current President tells that they are worthless and he need foreign intervention just to make the case to proceed.

This is a political vendetta. The young Marcos cannot stand the father-daughter tirade against his regime, so he has to get rid of both. Handling the father to the ICC and possibly pushing the daughter out of politics by impeaching her, all I know is the old Duterte should be tried in his country because the justice system is working in the Philippines, and Rudy Duterte wants to stand trial, be imprisoned, and die in his native land. The same person that her daughter helped get the presidency has betrayed him.

Its circulating over social media now that many people are protesting on that arrest and it seems this is the start chaos. With those troubles happening for sure this situation would affect their economy and other progress since there's nothing good result they can earn with this and they would just waste their time and resources with this political quarrels happening between this two leaders.

It's dirty politics; it's just a big surprise that he handed the Father to the foreign judges; it's not part of the culture of the Filipino to hand an old man to foreigners to be tried in a foreign land.
Its a nail in the coffin for the Marcoses I don't think any of the Marcoses or its ally will win in a national election he is actually grooming his cousin to follow his footstep but the approval rating is almost zero

[Spaceman1000$]

There’s some rallies everywhere in the Philippines hosted by different group in different parts of the country due to the ICC’s arrest order for Duterte. We all know that when there’s chaos, it will have a negative impact on the economy. I posted this outside our local section because I want to hear how non-Filipinos see the issue to get a perspective without bias.

Just a little background: Duterte was widely known for his war on drugs campaign, which, according to his political opponents, led to extrajudicial killings. This is the case that the ICC has charged him with.

So, what are your thoughts on this?

I think it's a good one, I could remember several cases that where reported during Duterte's tenure where some persons where reported killed unjustly, some countries where pleading for some of their country men that where supposedly found to be guilty in Philippines to be extradited to their own country for continuation of those cases, but the Duterte's government where vehemently opposing those moves, marking it seems as if he had a different agenda that was looking more like a personal Vendetta instead of normal justice to be served. Let him face the warrant, if the ICC found him not to be guilty then fine, but you cannot be a leader and at the same time throw caution to the the wings.

[Maslate]

Duterte was a corrupt idiot as president. He told soldiers that if they rsped women it's ok and he would cover them...

Come on, that shouldn't even be part of the conversation since it was just a joke.. and Filipinos understand that.

The real argument should be whether he deserves to be sent to the ICC and imprisoned or not. And the answer is no because people are actively protesting against the ICC’s actions and the Philippine government’s stance. That alone shows how much the people still support and love the former president and they don't believe the war on drugs was illegal or a crime to humanity.

[moneystery]

i'm not from the philippines but i've been following this case from the beginning. and i feel that all the things experienced by the duterte family, i'm sure there is someone behind it all, most likely the bongbong family who is currently the president of the philippines and has been at odds with the duterte family for a long time. especially some time ago, sara duterte said that she had ordered someone to behead the president if she was killed-- and many other series of events before. and finally the philippine government issued an arrest warrant for mr. duterte for crimes against humanity, even though the philippine government did not allow this to happen.

so this is all like a drama of the marcos and duterte family feud that we know has been ruling the philippines for a long time. both are actually equally bad, it's just that fortunately the marcos family is currently serving as president so they can act arbitrarily towards the duterte family and their supporters.

[blockman]

i'm not from the philippines but i've been following this case from the beginning. and i feel that all the things experienced by the duterte family, i'm sure there is someone behind it all, most likely the bongbong family who is currently the president of the philippines and has been at odds with the duterte family for a long time. especially some time ago, sara duterte said that she had ordered someone to behead the president if she was killed-- and many other series of events before. and finally the philippine government issued an arrest warrant for mr. duterte for crimes against humanity, even though the philippine government did not allow this to happen.

You're right with what you've been following but I'll correct you about the arrest. It is not the Philippine government that has issued an arrest warrant to him with the crimes against the humanity but it was the International Criminal Court. 2019 was the year that it was declared by our government that we're no longer part of the ICC so, they have no jurisdiction over that arrest unless someone from the higher power, the president himself allowed it to happen.

so this is all like a drama of the marcos and duterte family feud that we know has been ruling the philippines for a long time. both are actually equally bad, it's just that fortunately the marcos family is currently serving as president so they can act arbitrarily towards the duterte family and their supporters.

Not just families that are part of this but also the organization, a rebel terrorists that are also having their legal front that are public servants too that have interest to take over the government that should have been wiped out by Duterte during his term but it seems that it's now the opposite.

[stomachgrowls]

Duterte was a corrupt idiot as president. He told soldiers that if they rsped women it's ok and he would cover them...

Come on, that shouldn't even be part of the conversation since it was just a joke.. and Filipinos understand that.

The real argument should be whether he deserves to be sent to the ICC and imprisoned or not. And the answer is no because people are actively protesting against the ICC’s actions and the Philippine government’s stance. That alone shows how much the people still support and love the former president and they don't believe the war on drugs was illegal or a crime to humanity.

I have heard out this one:

China warns ICC against 'politicising' Philippines ex-president Duterte’s arrest
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKEmcPISZJ4

Duterte Latest LIVE | ‘ICC Has No Authority!’: Trump’s Old Speech Goes Viral After Duterte Arrest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q70cIFeHK8Y

Just make it sure that ICC isnt really that being influenced with some political intents about these arrest and the ones who are
really that making up such set up, this will really be a huge pain in the ass of those whose behind of this one at the moment that its been known or proven out.

[DrBeer]

I hold to the concept that the criminal must be punished. And neither his former merits, nor his rank, nor his age, nor his religion or sexual orientation, nor anything can be an “indulgence” if he has committed crimes, especially very terrible crimes ! This is the power of the rule of law - the inevitability of punishment for crimes committed.

Duterte made it clear even from the start that he is in full responsibility for whatever the outcome. Everyone has heard him say that on the news, on speaking engagements, all he wants is for him to be tried in a local court, get imprisoned in his native land, and die in his beloved country.
Honestly, it was safer to walk on the street even in the middle of the night in the Philippines during Duterte's regime, but now you are at risk of getting robbed, killed, or kidnapped even in broad daylight, and besides, Duterte's order for the police to only shoot when the drug dealers want to put up a fight; the other corrupt policemen who want to get higher rank disobeyed the order.

If it is as you say, and if you are a resident of the Philippines, you are most likely the bearer of the most accurate information, what happened is sad. And rather the problem is not the president, but global state corruption, which is trying its best to get out of the way of those who can destroy it. 
And another question - if everything was much better under his rule - why are the people of the country silent? The only power in the country is the people, who entrust the governance of the country to elected deputies and the president. Power is not sacred, power is the population of the country!

[el kaka22]

Whenever someone is jailed for political reasons, there will always be two sides. It is so clear cut that even the greatest people and the worst people would have the same two sided reaction. Nelson Mandela, who everyone loves right now, was jailed too, and everyone in the whole world believed it was unjust, but there was a side that wanted him jailed at the time, if not how could he be jailed?

There were two sides of putting a good person in jail. But also, when Hitler was fighting, there were people who supported him too, how do you think he got to the power? Or when he died, there were people who were sad. So, no clue if this Duterte dude is a good one or a bad one, never heard of him before, but just because there are supporters, doesn't make him good or bad.

[Faisal2202]

There’s some rallies everywhere in the Philippines hosted by different group in different parts of the country due to the ICC’s arrest order for Duterte. We all know that when there’s chaos, it will have a negative impact on the economy. I posted this outside our local section because I want to hear how non-Filipinos see the issue to get a perspective without bias.

Just a little background: Duterte was widely known for his war on drugs campaign, which, according to his political opponents, led to extrajudicial killings. This is the case that the ICC has charged him with.

So, what are your thoughts on this?

Well, I did some research on Duterte, as I am not from the Philippines, so I might be wrong about a few things, so please report where I am wrong. Speaking of the ICC, didn't under Duterte administration withdraw their membership from ICC, so now the ICC can't arrest him until the authorities of the Philippines do something about it, and after reading, I am 90% sure that (I am not that judgemental, I usually spend more time to conclude) he is guilty of killing innocent lives in these drug wars (extrajudicial Killings).

If the Philippines are okay with that and still want to support him then that's their choice, because they might give more importance to the things that Duterte have helped them achieve, his rivals are also totally opposite to him, and they will surely make things worse for Duterte but I think they are also in support of country.