From crimes against humanity suspected Duterte, tough approach found drug trafficking necessary

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is en route to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The aircraft in which he is being transported arrived from Manila in Dubai on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday and will fly further to Rotterdam from there.

His daughter Sara Duterte, currently vice president of the Philippines, is also on his way to the Netherlands to assist her father. She is expected at Schiphol in the late afternoon.

The 79-year-old Duterte was president between 2016 and 2022 and is suspected of crimes against humanity in the context of the so-called 'war against drugs'. The Court wants to demonstrate that Moordenskaders, who consisted of police officers and criminals, were given the free hand to kill drug dealers and users without trial.

The Filipino police themselves registered around the six thousand dead. According to human rights organizations, the death toll is possible between ten and thirty thousand. Most victims were poor, often addicted and partly minors.

On March 8, the Court of Appeal made an arrest warrant against the former president. He was arrested yesterday after a trip from Hong Kong at the airport in Manila. A few hours the former president tried to prevent eviction through the court from the plane that would fly to the Netherlands. That did not work. At 11 pm in the Filipino evening the plane left for Dubai to fly through there to Rotterdam.

According to the Singaporean newspaper The Straits Times Declare three judges of the court in the 15-page order that was signed on March 7, that they consider it plausible that Duterte is guilty of illegal 'antidrugs' murders. From 2011 to 2016, Duterte was the mayor of the city of Davao and is said to have led the infamous 'Davao Death Squad', a moor desk. After taking office as President, he unleashed his notorious antidrug war.

'I did what had to be done'

Last October, Duterte defended his actions under Ede in a judicial investigation by the Filipino Senate. He withdrew from all the responsibility for suffering. He emphasized that his approach was necessary To eliminate drug trafficking and refused to apologize for that. « I did what had to be done. You can believe it or not, but I did it for my country.  »

He did not deny that the anti-drug units partly consisted of criminals and he also gave assignments. That's how he told his agents: “Death this person now. If you refuse, I will shoot you. ”

Since 2018, a group of Filipino lawyers have been trying to get President Rodrigo Duterte for the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The Court ordered criminal investigation in November 2021, but two months later the case had already stuck. Duterte does not recognize the court and refused to cooperate. As a result, he seemed inviolable for a while.

The Philippines accepted the legitimacy of the Criminal Court in 2011, but withdrew this recognition in 2019. Duterte still calculated that he would stay out of shot. His twenty -year -old daughter Veronica posted a video on Instagram last night in which Duterte questioned the legality of his arrest: “We are no longer a member of the International Criminal Court. Why do you arrest me? ”

According to The Straits Times Has the Court of Appeal in The Hague that they have the right to arrest Duterte, because some of the crimes were committed when the Philippines were members of the Criminal Court.

While he was already on the plane, Duterte's lawyers tried to prevent extradition to prevent extradition through a petition at the Filipino Supreme Court, but the plane left before the judge ruled. His daughter stated that he was forced to board. « This is not justice. This is oppression and persecution, « she said on Tuesday evening.

From Alliance to Veine

In 2022, Duterte was succeeded by President Ferdinand Marcos Junior, son of Autocrat Ferdinand Marcos Sr. who ruled the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. Marcos won the elections with Sara Duterte as a vice president, she is the daughter of Rodrigo Duterte. Also because of the tires between the families, arrest still seemed far away in the first instance.

But in two years the covenant between the families has turned into a fierce, public feud. In speeches, Marcos Duterte accused that he himself would be addicted to drugs. Vice-president Sara Duterte is said to have planned a murder attack on Marcos Junior. In July a deposit case against her starts. She would also have committed large -scale fraud.

In January, Marcos stated that « it would be open to arrest as Interpol would therefore ask. »

Analysts suspect that President Marcos now feels powerful enough to continue the break between the families. And that is partly due to the geopolitical shifts. Where Duterte maintained warm tires, and still maintains, with China, Marcos has caught the ties with the United States.

Under his presidency, the Philippines – with military support from the Americans – fiercely opposed the Chinese aggression at sea within waters that, according to international treaties, fall under Philippine territory. Filipino public opinion has supported this policy.

Hope for justice

The lawyer of the families of the victims Kristina Conti posted a message on Facebook: “Marcos finally fulfills his duty to hold Duterte liable for his actions. We waited a long time for this, « she expressed the emotion of her clients. « We hope that there will now be justice for all victims. »

For the former senator Leila de Lima, yesterday was a special day, a day on which « the law finally triumphs, » she wrote on X. The senator spoke out against Duterte's policy at the time and had to look forward to seven years in prison. « Today, Duterte has to answer, not to me, but to the victims, to their families and to the world that does not forget. This has nothing to do with revenge. Today it is justice.  »

Duterte's supporters gathered last night on International Ninoy Aquino airport of Manila to demonstrate against his eviction. Political allies such as Senator Bong Go and candidate Senator Philip Salvador demanded release. There were also protests for his release in his home town of Davao. Supporters went in prayer for his health and release.

Online also posted supporters and opponents messages. Families of victims are relieved in emotional messages that there is finally justice for all those thousands, partly innocent and sometimes also minors victims of the death squares.

Others see a political move by President Marcos in the arrest of Duterte to eliminate opposition. A small group calls for the deposition of Ferdinand Marcos Junior and refers to the popular uprising in 1986, which meant the end of his father's cruel regime.

Burden

Rodrigo Duterte will have to prevent in a hearing. Within 60 days, a jury will determine whether the suspect is able to be tried and whether there is Enough burden of proof is.

There are regional elections in May. Rodrigo Duterte has applied for the mayor of Davao, which has been the heart of the bulkhead of the Dutert Family for decades. His son Sebastian is now mayor. The arrest may throw oil on the fire and lead to outbursts of violence between supporters and opponents of Duterte.

Duterte still has supporters who believe in the success of his hard populist anti-drug approach.

The Filipino political analyst Victor Manhit Dindo thinks that the support for Duterte will concentrate around Davao and will not be propagated nationally. « Yes, there was a handful of emotional supporters at the airport in Manila yesterday and there were protests in Davao, but I do not foresee that there will be major statements of support outside the city of Davao, » he says on the phone.

He does not think that Marcos will spin a lot of extra yarn through the arrest. « Of course we still have to see how the arrest will influence the upcoming elections. But most politicians are already behind Marcos and his policy, especially around the South China Sea. I don't think a lot will shift in that.  »

Duterte's arrest is a victory for the International Criminal Court, writes The New York Times. But according to the American newspaper, the case also shows the weaknesses of the court. It can only arrest suspects when countries cooperate in extradition.

Power Duterte Wanende

The arrest of Duterte comes at a time his power is waning, so that President Marcos saw the opportunity to carry out the order now. For example, the arrests of other suspects, where things encounter, such as Russian President Putin or Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, are currently very unlikely.

It is striking that China has already responded to the arrest. On Tuesday, Mao Ning declared the Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesperson that the International Criminal Court must perform its duties carefully And must apply 'no double standard', which testifies to a political process.

President Marcos denies that the arrest comes from an opportunistic political motive. He stated on Tuesday evening that he « just does his job. » And that he only performs his responsibility towards the victims.

To share





Mail the editors