Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, facing charges of crimes against humanity for his deadly war on drugs. Duterte’s lawyer, Salvador Medialdea, argued his arrest was unlawful, calling it "extrajudicial rendition" and "kidnapping" by Philippine authorities.
Outside the court, both supporters and critics gathered, with Vice President Sara Duterte addressing loyalists and assuring them of her father’s well-being. Meanwhile, families of victims of the drug war watched the proceedings from the Philippines, holding photos of lost loved ones and demanding justice.
The ICC has scheduled the next hearing for September 23, deepening divisions in the Philippines over Duterte’s legacy. While many seek accountability, his arrest has only solidified support among his followers.
Outside the court, both supporters and critics gathered, with Vice President Sara Duterte addressing loyalists and assuring them of her father’s well-being. Meanwhile, families of victims of the drug war watched the proceedings from the Philippines, holding photos of lost loved ones and demanding justice.
The ICC has scheduled the next hearing for September 23, deepening divisions in the Philippines over Duterte’s legacy. While many seek accountability, his arrest has only solidified support among his followers.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Exactly three years after he withdrew the Philippines from the International Criminal
00:04Court, a frail Rodrigo Duterte makes an appearance at The Hague, facing charges for crimes against
00:11humanity in connection to his drug war.
00:15Despite seemingly being shown an arrest warrant in the Philippines prior to his extradition
00:20to The Hague, his lawyer tells the ICC judge no warrant was shown, calling his arrest unlawful
00:27and a form of political score-settling by Philippine authorities.
00:32To us lawyers, this would be called an extrajudicial rendition.
00:39To the less legally inclined, it was a pure and simple kidnapping.
00:45Prosecutors are accusing the former Philippine president of carrying out systemic attacks
00:50against the civilian population during his time in office, after he launched a brutal
00:55war on drug gangs and addicts.
00:58Outside the ICC, both critics and supporters of Duterte gather.
01:03While many decry his drug war as a violation of human rights, pro-Duterte supporters insist
01:10that his actions were justified and helped improve the Philippines' security.
01:15His daughter, current Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, was also seen addressing her
01:20family's supporters, assuring them of his well-being and delivering a message of encouragement
01:27from her father.
01:28Tell them to relax, everyone has a right, there will be a day of reckoning for all.
01:38But for families of the victims of Duterte's policy, it's the former president's day
01:43of reckoning they are looking forward to.
01:46Holding photos of their deceased loved ones, they watch the proceedings closely from thousands
01:52of kilometers away in the Philippines.
01:55Here they recount how family members were taken from them, and continue to echo calls
02:00for justice nearly a decade since the killings began.
02:04What we want to see from ICC is that Rodrigo Duterte to pay up for his crimes against humanity,
02:13crimes against the Filipino people, for the 30,000 and more victims of extrajudicial killings.
02:21The ICC has set the next hearing to confirm the charges six months from now, on the 23rd
02:26of September.
02:28While the families of the victims look for closure, Duterte still remains popular among
02:33many Filipinos, with his arrest further dividing the Philippines between those calling for
02:39his conviction and those calling for his return home.
02:44Andy Xue and Gino Lopez for Taiwan Plus.