A Gulfstream G550 plane believed to contain former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen after landing at Rotterdam The Hague Airport, following his arrest on an International Criminal Court warrant tied to his deadly crackdown on drugs, on March 12, 2025. John Thys, AFP

MANILA (4th UPDATE) -- Former President Rodrigo Duterte is now in the custody of the International Criminal Court, following his arrival in the Netherlands late Wednesday night. 

Duterte's flight landed at 11:54 p.m. (Manila time) in Rotterdam, which has the nearest airport to The Hague, the seat of the ICC.

"Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte... was surrendered to the custody of the International Criminal Court," the ICC said in a statement posted on its website. "He was arrested by the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines in accordance with an arrest warrant issued... for charges of murder as a crime against humanity."

A spokesman for the International Criminal Court earlier confirmed Duterte's arrival.

"I confirm the plane landed," Fadi El Abdallah told reporters, later confirming that Duterte was on board.

The ICC said that a hearing for Duterte's initial appearance before the court "will be scheduled in due course."

"During this hearing, the Chamber will confirm the identity of the suspect and the language in which Mr. Duterte is able to follow the proceedings," they added. "The Chamber will also satisfy itself that Mr. Duterte has been informed of the crime which he is alleged to have committed, and of his rights under the Rome Statute, which is the Court’s founding treaty."

The 79-year-old faces a charge of "the crime against humanity of murder", according to the ICC, for a crackdown that rights groups estimate killed tens of thousands of mostly poor men, often without proof they were linked to drugs.

In a separate statement, ICC prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan called Duterte's arrest "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."

"This is a crucial step in our continuous work to ensure accountability for the victims of the most serious crimes under ICC jurisdiction. The Office is now commencing preparations towards the initial appearance and subsequent judicial proceedings before the Court," he added.

Khan thanked the "victims, survivors, witnesses and activists from the Philippines" who cooperated with the ICC Office of the Prosecutor. "Their strength, courage, and perseverance make these significant developments possible. Those who wish to further cooperate or who have relevant information are encouraged to do so via the Office’s Witness Appeal portal," he said.

Prior to his arrival in the Netherlands, Duterte said he is ready to face whatever will happen.

"Do not worry," Duterte said in a video posted on his official Facebook page. "I think this has something to do with the law and order noon. At sinasabi ko naman sa mga pulis, military na, trabaho kayo at ako ang managot. So, ito na nga."

"This will be a long, legal proceedings but I say to you, I will continue to serve my country and so be it kung ganun ang destiny ko," he also said.

According to guidelines of the ICC, the agency's Judicial Cooperation Division officials will take custody of Duterte upon his arrival. The Netherlands police will be on hand to assist ICC officials in the turnover. He is then expected to be brought to the ICC Detention Facility in Scheveningen, The Hague for a medical check and the booking procedure.

What awaits Duterte: ICC detention center in The Hague

On Wednesday morning, his lawyers said they had filed a Supreme Court petition on behalf of his youngest daughter, Veronica, accusing the government of "kidnapping", and demanding it be compelled "to bring him back".

"The ICC can only exercise its jurisdiction if a country's national legal system is not functioning," Duterte lawyer Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. told reporters outside the court, insisting the Philippines' judicial system was "working properly".

But palace press officer Claire Castro said cooperating with Interpol on the case was the government's prerogative.

"This is not just surrendering a Filipino citizen, this is surrendering a Filipino citizen who is accused of crimes against humanity, specifically murder," she said at a briefing.

Palace defends Duterte arrest, to help serve more ICC arrest warrants

Duterte was arrested at Manila's international airport Tuesday after "Interpol Manila received the official copy of the warrant of the arrest from the ICC", the presidential palace said.

An ICC spokesman later confirmed the warrant and said an initial appearance hearing would be scheduled when Duterte was in court custody.

Catching the world's most wanted: The ICC's impossible task

Before his departure, Vice President Sara Duterte said her father was being "forcibly taken to The Hague", labelling the transfer "oppression and persecution".

'Blatant affront to our sovereignty': Sara Duterte decries father's arrest

Her office issued a statement Wednesday saying she had left on a morning flight for Amsterdam, without offering further details.

Asked Tuesday what he would say to supporters of Duterte, who remains hugely popular, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government was "just doing its job" by living up to its international commitments.

War on drugs: The unheard voices

— With reports from Agence France-Presse, ABS-CBN News