Former President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the legal challenges ahead of him, saying he is prepared to face the consequences of his past actions.
“So be it,” Duterte said in a two-minute video message uploaded to his Facebook page before disembarking, adding that he was “okay” despite the long flight.
Duterte arrived at Rotterdam The Hague Airport in the Netherlands on Wednesday, March 12, at 11:53 p.m. Manila time, as the government took the former President into the International Criminal Court’s custody.
Acknowledging the possibility of a long legal battle, the former president reiterated his commitment to protecting law enforcement officers and military personnel who served under his administration.
“This will be a long legal proceeding. So be it. But I say to you, I will continue to serve my country,” Duterte said.
Duterte also said he would take responsibility for any “collateral damage” from police operations. However, the extrajudicial killings linked to his so-called “war on drugs” were not merely unintended consequences, contrary to how he previously framed them.
“At sinasabi ko naman sa mga police, military, na trabaho kayo at ako ang managot,” he said. “Sinasabi ko na I will protect you and I will managot sa lahat.”
While he did not specify the exact legal issues he was referring to, Duterte’s statement comes amid ongoing investigations into his administration’s controversial war on drugs, which has drawn scrutiny from both local and international bodies.
Despite these challenges, Duterte vowed to continue his service to the Filipino people.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Duterte on March 7 over charges of crimes against humanity. Philippine authorities, through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), served the warrant on March 11, shortly after his return from Hong Kong.
Later that night, at 11:03 p.m., Duterte departed the Philippines on a chartered flight. He is now in the court’s custody, with a hearing expected to be scheduled soon.
Human rights organizations estimate that between 12,000 and 30,000 people were killed during Duterte’s drug crackdown, while official government figures place the toll at over 6,000.
Among the casualties were both suspected drug offenders and innocent civilians, including hundreds of children. Reports indicate that most cases were not subjected to due process or thorough investigations, often dismissed as incidents of “nanlaban,” in which suspects allegedly resisted arrest. (TCSP)
