The British-Israeli lead defense counsel of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has called for his immediate return to the Philippines, emphasizing that he “should go back” to the country “as soon as possible.” This statement comes amid Duterte’s ongoing detention in The Hague, Netherlands, where he faces trial for alleged crimes against humanity.
Duterte’s arrest on March 11, 2025, was carried out by the Philippine National Police and Interpol, following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. The warrant charges Duterte with crimes against humanity related to the Philippine drug war during his presidency.
The former president’s detention has sparked widespread protests and mass actions across the Philippines, with supporters calling for his release and critics demanding accountability for alleged human rights abuses. Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, has been vocal in her criticism of the arrest, labeling it as “state kidnapping”.
As the trial unfolds, Duterte’s defense team will likely argue that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines, citing the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019. However, the ICC has maintained that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed during the period when the Philippines was a state party to the statute.
