The political center of the Netherlands is also known as the “International City of Peace and Justice”
Former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday, March 11, 2025, for crimes against humanity. The warrant served by the International Police (Interpol) follows the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the Duterte administration’s long and bloody war on drugs.
Exact figures vary, but official statistics from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency say that 6,252 individuals have been killed in police anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016 to May 31, 2022. Meanwhile, a 2017 report from the Office of the President revealed 20,322 drug war-related deaths from July 1, 2016 to Nov. 27, 2017. According to human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, 3,967 of the mentioned figures were attributed to police operations, while extrajudicial killings accounted for the remaining 16,355.
The ICC only takes action in cases that fall under its jurisdiction: the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. The ICC alleges that former President Duterte motivated and led a targeted and systematic attack (murder) against a civilian population—satisfying article 7(1) of the Rome Statute.
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According to his warrant of arrest, the ICC, in their investigation, discovered that Duterte, during his stint as mayor of Davao City and the president of the Philippines, established the infamous Davao Death Squad (DDS), formerly known as the Lambada Boys in 1998, for the sole purpose of killing alleged criminals. The warrant also indicated that he used his position as president to empower, arm, and scale up DDS operations to a national level.
Although the Philippines formally withdrew from the ICC on March 17, 2019, the ICC maintained its jurisdiction over crimes committed by Duterte before the date of withdrawal. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been adamant that the current administration did not cooperate with the ICC in their investigations. However, he explained that they cooperated in the arrest and detainment of Duterte based on the country’s commitments to Interpol.
Currently, the former president is en route to The Hague in the Netherlands as he awaits trial at the ICC. As the world watches on, here’s everything we know about the “International City of Peace and Justice.”
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The city without walls
The Hague’s reputation as the “International City of Peace and Justice” can be felt throughout its history. In the 1800s, when Louis Napoleon, King of the Netherlands, first visited the newly chartered village, it did not have walls or a gate.
In the 1850s, The Hague was officially recognized as the Royal Residence of the Netherlands, with Amsterdam as its capital. The Royal Residence was not completely walled, and with its status as the seat of the monarchy, it also invited the establishment of embassies and the arrival of tourists. These painted the image of an inviting city and marked the first stirrings of its reputation as a proprietor of peace.
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This reputation would take further shape in the 20th century when The Hague became the venue for two separate peace conferences. Following the second World War, the International Court of Justice, the highest legal body of the United Nations, was housed in the Peace Palace in 1946.
Today, there are over 200 international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations based in The Hague, covering various societal concerns from international law and humanitarian aid to sustainable development and good governance.
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Outside both government and organizations, The Hague is a coastal plain city beside 11 kilometers of sand. The third largest city in the Netherlands is popular among beachgoers with the three main beaches scattered along its lengthy coastline.
Also known as the “green city by the sea,” The Hague owes this name not only to its commitments to sustainable development but also to the green spaces at its city center—from the 13.9-hectare Malieveld to the 14-hectare Zuiderpark.
The teeth of the ICC
Should former President Duterte be found guilty of the charges, he can be sentenced for up to 30 years of imprisonment—a lifetime sentence is also possible “under exceptional circumstances.”
Should former President Duterte be found guilty of the charges, he can be sentenced for up to 30 years of imprisonment—a lifetime sentence is also possible “under exceptional circumstances”
The ICC detention center does not house convicted criminals, so a possible sentence can only be served in a country that agrees to enforce ICC sentences. Given that the Philippines is no longer a member state, the court will be selecting one if he is convicted.
The ICC can also award reparations to identified victims. Should the convicted not have the means to pay, the money can be taken from the criminal court’s Trust Fund for Victims (TFV). The ICC famously ordered €52,429,000 in reparations for the victims of Dominic Ongwen, the former Brigade Commander of the Sinia Brigade of the Lord’s Resistance Army, who was charged with 61 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Unfortunately, as of last year and due to the extraordinary amount chosen by the ICC, no country has contributed to paying the reparations order.
