Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s aircraft has landed in Dubai for a layover after he was served an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Gulfstream G550 (RP-C5219) arrived at Al Maktoum International Airport at 4:03 a.m. (Dubai time) on its way to The Hague, Netherlands, where Duterte is set to face charges related to his administration’s war on drugs. The plane departed from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at 11:03 p.m. on Tuesday.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed Duterte’s transfer, stating that the arrest followed proper legal procedures in response to Interpol’s request. However, Vice President Sara Duterte denounced the move as “state kidnapping,” arguing it lacked legal basis.
Duterte has repeatedly maintained that he should be tried in the Philippines, asserting that the ICC has no jurisdiction after the country withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2018.
The aircraft is expected to depart for Rotterdam The Hague Airport after more than an hour in Dubai.