Rodrigo Duterte Spends 80th Birthday in ICC Detention
3 min read
MARCH 28,2025
MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte spent his 80th birthday behind bars in the Netherlands on Friday, marking a dramatic chapter in his controversial legacy. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has detained him on crimes against humanity charges linked to his brutal war on drugs.
RELATED STORY: Duterte Human Rights Case: Activists Wish Him More Birthdays
Authorities arrested Rodrigo Duterte on March 11 at Manila’s international airport, a turning point in Philippine politics. His supporters and critics responded with protests. The once-fiery leader, who famously clashed with global figures—including former U.S. President Barack Obama, the Pope, and even God—now faces a different battle in an international court.
Rodrigo Duterte in Detention: High Spirits and Simple Requests
Rodrigo Duterte remains in high spirits at the Scheveningen detention center, just 1.5 kilometers from the ICC headquarters, according to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte. On his birthday, his longtime partner and daughter visited him, bringing personal items, including a bag of clothes from his Davao home and his favorite sugar-free soft drinks.
“He even asked for dental floss,” Sara Duterte told reporters in The Hague. She encouraged her father to cook his own food and consider writing a book while in detention. Duterte dismissed the idea, saying, “I’m too old to write a book.”
Rodrigo Duterte Facing Justice: ICC Case and Potential Life Sentence
The ICC has accused Duterte of being an “indirect co-perpetrator” in thousands of extrajudicial killings under his anti-drug crackdown from November 2011 to March 2019—spanning his time as Davao City mayor and President of the Philippines. He denied directly ordering police killings but admitted to using a “death squad” to eliminate criminals during his mayoral term.
The estimated death toll during his presidency ranges from the 6,250 reported by the Philippine government to 30,000, according to human rights groups.
On March 15, Duterte made his first video appearance before ICC judges from his detention cell. Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc has scheduled a pretrial hearing for September 23, 2025, where prosecutors will present evidence to determine if a full trial is warranted. If convicted, Duterte faces a maximum life sentence.
His legal team has explored temporary release, but victims’ families strongly oppose the idea.
Philippines on Edge: Protests, Divided Support, and Political Fallout
Rodrigo Duterte’s detention has divided the Philippines. Supporters held prayer rallies in Manila, demanding his release, while left-wing activists staged a mock funeral procession, displaying images of drug war victims and calling for justice.
The Duterte family has accused the Marcos administration of unlawfully arresting him, deepening the rift between the two political camps. Once allies, Duterte and Marcos have now become bitter rivals.
Vice President Sara Duterte criticized the Philippine military for failing to intervene in her father’s arrest. In response, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reaffirmed their political neutrality, stating, “Any deviation from this principle would undermine the very democracy we are bound to protect.”
A Defining Moment for Philippine Politics
Rodrigo Duterte’s 80th birthday marks a turning point in Philippine history. His fate now rests in the hands of the ICC. His case will likely have far-reaching implications for global justice, Philippine democracy, and future leaders.
Will Duterte face a historic conviction, or will he secure his freedom? One thing is certain: the legacy of the Davao strongman is far from over.
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