Duterte turns 80 in ICC detention

MANILA. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte marked his 80th birthday in detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands on Friday, following his controversial arrest earlier this month. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, both supporters and critics took to the streets, prompting heightened security measures by the police.

Duterte’s arrest at Manila’s international airport on March 11 was carried out by Philippine authorities in compliance with an ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity. The former president’s detention is a significant turning point for one of the most controversial leaders in Philippine history.

During his presidency, Duterte made headlines for his brash rhetoric, once calling God “stupid,” cursing then U.S. President Barack Obama and the Pope, and stating he would be “happy to slaughter” three million drug addicts in the Philippines—comparing his anti-drug campaign to Adolf Hitler’s mass executions.

Duterte is currently being held at a detention center in the seaside suburb of Scheveningen, approximately 1.5 kilometers from the ICC headquarters in The Hague. Despite his incarceration, he remains “in high spirits,” according to Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, his daughter, who has been visiting him regularly.

On his birthday, Duterte was visited by his common-law wife and their daughter. His family also sent him a bag of clothes from his home in Davao and his preferred sugar-free soft drinks. Vice President Duterte shared that her father had also requested dental floss.

“I urged him to cook his own food while in detention, but he told me, ‘I’m too old to write a book,’” she recounted, dismissing the idea that he would document his experiences.

Duterte made his first appearance before ICC judges via video on March 15, following his arrest. He faces charges related to the widespread killings under his anti-drug campaign, which spanned from November 2011 to March 2019, covering his tenure as Davao City mayor and Philippine president.

ICC prosecutors have accused Duterte of being an “indirect co-perpetrator” in mass extrajudicial killings. While he has denied authorizing police to kill thousands of suspects, he previously admitted under oath in a Philippine Senate inquiry that he had maintained a “death squad” in Davao City to eliminate criminals.

The estimated death toll from Duterte’s war on drugs varies significantly, with Philippine authorities reporting at least 6,250 deaths. However, human rights groups estimate the number to be between 20,000 and 30,000.

Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc has scheduled a pretrial hearing for September 23 to determine if the prosecution has sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. If convicted, Duterte could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Duterte retains the right to apply for temporary release, though the families of victims of the drug war strongly oppose such a move, fearing a lack of accountability.

The former president’s detention continues to polarize the country. Supporters held prayer rallies in Manila and Davao City, calling for his immediate release. Meanwhile, left-wing activists staged protests, carrying a mock coffin adorned with images of drug war victims, demanding justice for the thousands killed under Duterte’s rule.

In response to the protests, the Philippine National Police went on high alert, ensuring order during demonstrations on Duterte’s birthday.

The Duterte family has questioned the legality of his arrest and criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration for allowing his surrender to the ICC. The rivalry between the Dutertes and the Marcos family has intensified since the former president’s detention.

Vice President Sara Duterte publicly criticized the Philippine military, saying it had stood “idly by while a former commander-in-chief was taken from a military base under questionable circumstances.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines responded with a statement on Thursday emphasizing its neutrality: “Any deviation from this principle would undermine the very democracy we are bound to protect.”

As Duterte marks a milestone birthday in ICC detention, his legacy remains deeply divisive. His supporters view him as a leader who took bold measures to combat crime, while his critics see him as a human rights violator who must be held accountable. With his trial still pending, the future of the former president—and the broader implications for Philippine politics—remains uncertain.

With reports from Associated Press