A political earthquake: Rodrigo Duterte faces justice in The Hague

In a moment marking a seismic shift in the country’s politics, the Manila government has handed over former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

The tough-talking former leader, once untouchable, now stands trial for crimes against humanity stemming from his brutal war on drugs.

This is a moment that forces the nation to rethink its tolerance for impunity and strongman rule.

Just three years ago, the Marcos-Duterte alliance seemed unshakable, a marriage of convenience that consolidated power and crushed opposition.

Now, with Duterte in ICC custody, the political divorce has culminated in an outcome few could have predicted.

The Marcos administration’s decision to allow Duterte’s transfer is a stunning break from tradition. No Philippine leader in history has faced accountability on such an international platform.

With Duterte facing the ICC, this signals a new reality: even the most powerful are not beyond the reach of the long arm of international law.

Duterte’s presidency was built on fear and bravado. He's had a good run of the same playbook in Davao City, which has invited probes into his alleged death squads.

He rose to power on a strongman image, vowing to eliminate drugs, crime, and corruption in “three to six months.”

The promise was impossible, but it was never about feasibility — it was about resolve and performance.

Duterte, a masterful storyteller, played to the frustrations of a public desperate for change.

He spun tales of iron-fisted leadership, entertained with crude jokes, and cast himself as the only man willing to do what was necessary.

It worked. His popularity soared even as the bodies piled up.

His war on drugs, however, was never about due process. Police were emboldened to pursue suspected drug dealers and users with reckless abandon. It has triggered a chain reaction, marked by death on mere suspicion, or collateral damage.

Extrajudicial killings became commonplace, human rights groups rang the alarm, and grieving families were left with no recourse.

Yet, for years, Duterte remained defiant, dismissing international criticism with characteristic bluster.

He even withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019, believing it would shield him from prosecution. It didn’t.

Now, the unthinkable has happened. The ICC has deemed there are “reasonable grounds” to charge Duterte as an “indirect co-perpetrator” of mass murder.

His own words — boastful admissions of ordering killings — may be used against him in court. The man who once taunted international bodies now finds himself at their mercy.

In a video message before his surrender, he remained defiant: “I am the one who led our law enforcement and military... I will be responsible for all of this.”

This moment carries weight beyond Duterte. It serves as a warning to politicians who believe they can rule with impunity.

The days of unchecked power, where bluster, shortcuts and brutality override justice, may be fading.

The Philippines may have thousands of islands, but in a civilised world, no man — Duterte included — can stand alone like a deserted one.

The Asian country now faces a crucial test: Will it embrace a system where accountability is real, or will it find a way to insulate its leaders once more?

Divine justice?

For Duterte’s critics, including Leila de Lima, a former senator and justice minister, this is "divine justice".

De Lima investigated Duterte's alleged "Davao Death Squads", but ended up in jail for years under the strongman's watch on trumped-up charges for what she then termed as a "fake drug war".

At one time, numerous people appeared in court pointing to her as the country's supposed drug queen. Local courts then cleared de Lima of all charges as witnesses recanted their statements one by one and the false witnesses apologised to her for wrongful persecution.

She cited the Rome Statute and Section 17 of the Republic Act (RA) No. 9851, which states that the Philippine government “may choose not to exercise jurisdiction over crimes against international humanitarian law” and “allow another entity conferred with similar jurisdiction by international law to assume jurisdiction where said entity is already investigating the accused or suspect.”

Rappler, an online news site, calls Duterte's arrest a long-awaited "reckoning" for a leader they view as reckless and tyrannical.

Rappler's editor, Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, had to face dozens of cases owing to her open criticisms of Duterte.

To his loyalists, it is a betrayal. Many are calling for prayers for their beloved leader.

But regardless of perspective, one truth is undeniable: The landscape of Philippine politics has shifted.

Duterte’s trial forces the nation to confront not just his legacy, but the deeper issues of justice, power, and the rule of law.

Whether Duterte is convicted or not, his fall from power is a lesson: In an increasingly interconnected world, even the most brazen strongmen cannot outrun accountability forever.

This is merely the opening act of an epic saga. A battle that will shape our time, carving its mark into history.

Buckle up.