The International Criminal Court (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor has welcomed the arrest and transfer of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, saying that it is an “important development” in the pursuit of accountability for alleged crimes against humanity during his administration’s bloody drug war.

In a statement, the office of ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan said that it is now starting preparations regarding Duterte’s initial appearance and subsequent judicial proceedings before the ICC. 

“The arrest of Mr. Duterte is an important development in the Office’s pursuit of accountability in the situation in the Republic of the Philippines for alleged crimes committed in the context of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ campaign,” the office said.

“This is a crucial step in our continuous work to ensure accountability for the victims of the most serious crimes under ICC jurisdiction,” it added.

Duterte entered the Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison past 2 a.m. in Philippine time, where he is set to be held while awaiting trial by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity in his administration's war on drugs.

The plane carrying him to the Netherlands landed at the Rotterdam The Hague airport at 4:54 p.m. or 11:54 p.m. in Philippine time.

The ICC Office of the Prosecutor has alleged based on its independent and impartial investigations that Duterte is criminally responsible for the crime against humanity of murder (article 7(1)(a) of the Rome Statute) committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019.

“Mr. Duterte is alleged to have committed these crimes as part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against the civilian population,” the office noted.

It further emphasized that in the warrant of arrest issued on March 7, 2025, the Pre-Trial Chamber I determined that “there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Duterte bears criminal responsibility for the crime against humanity of murder.”

“The Chamber also noted that the case against Mr. Duterte falls within the jurisdiction of the Court as the alleged crimes occurred during the period when the Philippines was a State Party to the Rome Statute, the ICC’s founding treaty,” it added.

To recall, the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, in 2019 after The Hague-based tribunal began a probe into the Duterte administration's drug war.

Khan’s office also pointed out that the investigation in the situation in the Philippines continues. It encouraged those who wish to further cooperate or who have relevant information regarding Duterte’s war on drugs to do so through the office’s Witness Appeal portal.

“In pursuing further accountability in this Situation, the Office hopes to engage with the Philippine authorities on potential avenues of cooperation, and will continue to rely on the partnership of national authorities, regional and international organisations, civil society, and the communities affected by Rome Statute crimes,” it said.

(Reports from Giselle Ombay, GMA Integrated News)