THE Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) said the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte is an important development in the pursuit of accountability for the killings committed during the implementation of the latter’s drug war.

In a statement, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan welcomed the arrest of Duterte and his transfer to the ICC custody on the basis of an arrest warrant it issued on March 7, amid an ongoing investigation on the alleged crime against humanity in the Philippines.

“The arrest of Mr. Duterte is an important development in the office’s pursuit of accountability in the situation in the Republic of the Philippines for alleged crimes committed in the context of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ campaign,” Khan said.

“This is a crucial step in our continuous work to ensure accountability for the victims of the most serious crimes under ICC jurisdiction. The Office is now commencing preparations towards the initial appearance and subsequent judicial proceedings before the court,” he added.

The body alleges that Duterte, in his capacity as the founder and head of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) during his tenure as mayor of Davao City and subsequently as President of the Philippines, is criminally responsible for the crime against humanity of murder in the country between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019, when the Philippines withdrew its membership from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.

In an investigation conducted by the Commission on Human Rights in 2009, the DDS carried out the killings amid then-mayor Duterte’s anti-narcotics and criminality campaign in the city.

The DDS hitmen were reportedly paid around P15,000 for each killing, with P5,000 given to "police handlers," while the remaining P10,000 was divided among the assassins.

“Mr. Duterte is alleged to have committed these crimes as part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against the civilian population,” the ICC said.

The chamber also insisted that the case against Duterte falls within the jurisdiction of the court as the alleged crimes occurred during the period when the Philippines was a State Party to the Rome Statute.

“The Office’s investigation in the situation in the Republic of the Philippines continues. In pursuing further accountability in this situation, the Office hopes to engage with the Philippine authorities on potential avenues of cooperation, and will continue to rely on the partnership of national authorities, regional and international organisations, civil society, and the communities affected by Rome Statute crimes,” the ICC added.

The body expressed gratitude to the drug war victims, survivors, witnesses and activists who participated in the investigation while encouraging others who wish to further join the probe to contact them through https://www.icc-cpi.int/philippines/witness-appeal.

Duterte arrived at The Hague at 11:54 p.m. (Philippine time) and was brought to The Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen Prison at 2:34 a.m.