Duerte spends first night in prison, key moment for the International Criminal Court
Outside the International Criminal Court detention center where former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was sent on Wednesday, his supporters gathered, waving national flags and demanding his release, as he was quickly led through iron doors, reports the BBC, following KosovaPress.
Shortly before landing in the Netherlands, the 79-year-old unapologetically defended his "war on drugs," for which the International Criminal Court says there are "reasonable grounds" to charge him with murder as a crime against humanity.
Low-level drug dealers, users and others were killed during his time as mayor and, later, president.
The official death toll is 6.000, however activists believe the true figure is higher.
Rodrigo Duterte said he cracked down on drug dealers to save the country from street crime.
However, human rights groups claim that this campaign was filled with police violence, targeting young people from the urban poor, reports. KosovaPress.
Rodrigo Duterte is the first former head of an Asian state to be indicted by the International Criminal Court and the first suspect to be sent to The Hague in three years.
His arrival comes at a key moment for the International Criminal Court.
His cases have turned the discussion on the role of the International Criminal Court in relation to national sovereignty, a concern often raised by non-member states, such as the United States, Russia and China.
Duterte's arrival is a much-needed victory for the court, which, after issuing two arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has shown it can bring to justice those accused of serious crimes.
Rodrigo Duterte will spend his 80th birthday at the detention center, a former Nazi prison complex that offers good conditions.
He is expected to appear in court soon, where he will confirm his identity, choice of language and the charges against him, according to the report. KosovaPress.
If the charges are confirmed, it could be months before trial, and years, until a final decision.
