Daven Tamayo

Duterte ahead of arrival at The Hague: 'I will continue to serve my country'

Article (news)

Carmelle Lacuata

ABS-CBN News

Former President Rodrigo Duterte gave an update on his condition before he landed at The Hague late Wednesday (Manila time).In a video message posted on his official Facebook page, Duterte said he is ready to face whatever will happen to him.“Okay lang ako. Do not worry, and 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,” he said.“For all of the whatever happened in the past, ako na ‘yung nag-front sa ating law enforcement pati military. Sinabi ko na, I will protect you and I will… ako ang managot sa lahat,” Duterte added.The former Philippine chief executive also said he will continue to serve the country, regardless of how long the legal proceedings will be.“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. Salamat,” he said.The former president is now in the custody of the International Criminal Court. A hearing before his initial appearance before the court &quot;will be scheduled in due course,&quot; the ICC said.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.A spokesman for the ICC confirmed Duterte&#x27;s arrival.&quot;I confirm the plane landed,&quot; Fadi El Abdallah told reporters, later confirming that Duterte was on board.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/11/what-awaits-duterte-icc-detention-center-in-the-hague-0708">What awaits Duterte: ICC detention center in The Hague</a></div>The 79-year-old faces a charge of &quot;the crime against humanity of murder&quot;, 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.<div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/12/duterte-touches-down-in-the-netherlands-to-face-icc-drug-war-case-2355">Duterte touches down in the Netherlands to face ICC drug war case</a></div>

Former President Rodrigo Duterte gave an update on his condition before he landed at The Hague late Wednesday (Manila time).

Former President Rodrigo Duterte gave an update on his condition before he landed at The Hague late Wednesday (Manila time).