Duterte’s plane departs Dubai for Rotterdam en route to ICC trial

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has lunch onboard the jet on March 12, 2025. BONG GO

The private jet carrying former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte departed Dubai at 11:58am on Wednesday (March 12) after a scheduled refueling stop, continuing its journey to Rotterdam, Netherlands. Duterte is en route to The Hague, where he is set to face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity. According to flight tracker Flightradar24, the Gulfstream G550 jet, with tail number RPC5219, was initially scheduled to leave Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport at 5:15am after arriving at 3:56am but was delayed by several hours before finally taking off. The aircraft is expected to land in Rotterdam at approximately 5:40pm UAE time.

Duterte’s stopover in Dubai

Duterte, who left the Philippines late on Tuesday night, was accompanied on the flight by former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, a nurse and a personal assistant. The aircraft, operated by Challenger Aero Air Corporation, was piloted by Captains Johnny Gulla and Elmo Segovia. Senator Bong Go, a longtime ally of Duterte, shared a photo and video of the former president having a simple lunch on board the jet on Wednesday. Duterte was seen eating plain fried rice and paratha, a flatbread, alongside bottled water and fruit juice. At one point, he was heard asking for a soft drink but was informed that only juice was available. Earlier in the day, Go confirmed that Duterte was still in Dubai, urging supporters to pray for his safety. “Tatay Digong is currently in Dubai. Sama-sama po nating ipagdasal na nasa mabuting kalagayan at kaligtasan si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte (Let us pray together that former President Rodrigo Duterte will be safe and in good health),” Go wrote in a social media post at around 9am. News of Duterte’s stopover in Dubai quickly spread among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE, sparking an outpouring of support on social media. Posts calling for solidarity emerged, with one urging Filipinos to head to Dubai airport, while another wrote, “Hoping that the UAE royals will intervene.” Some supporters even called for political asylum for Duterte in the UAE. One commenter, identified as Tobirama, posted: “UAE, please help our former president Duterte.” Despite the growing support, Duterte’s extradition has also drawn strong reactions from human rights groups and international organizations, who view the move as a step toward justice for victims of his controversial war on drugs. Duterte was placed under Philippine government custody at Villamor Air Base on Tuesday morning after arriving from Hong Kong, where he attended a campaign event for the upcoming May 12 midterm elections. Authorities said that Interpol Manila received an official copy of the ICC arrest warrant early Tuesday, prompting swift action to detain Duterte. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed Duterte’s extradition, saying in a press conference on Tuesday, “The plane carrying former President Rodrigo Duterte took off at 11:03 PM and exited Philippine airspace. The plane is en route to The Hague in the Netherlands, allowing the former president to face charges of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody war on drugs.” Duterte’s legal team has contested his extradition, arguing that it lacks legal basis since the Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in 2019. However, the ICC maintains that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member.

Duterte’s message to supporters

Despite the controversy surrounding his arrest, Duterte appeared confident about his political influence. In an Instagram live session streamed by his daughter Veronica Duterte, the former president suggested that his legal troubles could strengthen his family’s political future. “My family, especially VP Sara Duterte—she can become president tomorrow, or in the longer term, she will win… because of what you did,” Duterte said. Duterte’s arrest has divided public opinion in the Philippines. Supporters have decried the move as politically motivated, with many staging protests outside his residence in Davao City. Meanwhile, human rights advocates have hailed the extradition as a historic step toward accountability. Duterte’s war on drugs, which resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings, has been the subject of international scrutiny. Security measures have been heightened in key locations across the Philippines, anticipating further protests from both supporters and critics. As Duterte continues his journey to The Hague, legal proceedings at the ICC are expected to begin in the coming weeks. ICA/CAM/Expat Media