MANILA, Philippines – On March 12 (Manila time), former president Rodrigo Duterte arrived in the Netherlands after he was arrested for crimes against humanity over his bloody war on drugs.
He is detained at the Detention Center of the International Criminal Court in The Hague as he awaits for the next step in the proceedings.
He is not alone; he shares the facility with four other detainees and one convict.
Here are Duterte’s neighbors inside the detention facility.
Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz, former senior member of the Islamic Police in Timbuktu, Mali
Charge: Crimes against humanity (including torture, persecution, and inhuman acts) and war crimes (such as torture, outrages upon personal dignity, and mutilation) committed between May 2012 and January 2013
Status: Handed down a 10-year prison sentence; currently detained awaiting transfer to a country designated by the ICC where he will serve his sentence
Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, suspected former leader of the Janjaweed militia
Charge: 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, persecution, and torture, allegedly committed between August 2003 and April 2004 in Darfur, Sudan
Status: Awaiting judgment at the ICC after his trial, which began in April 2022 and concluded with closing statements in December 2024
Alfred Yekatom, former corporal chief of the Central African Republic’s Armed Forces and member of parliament
Charge: War crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, persecution, forcible transfer of populations, enlistment of child soldiers, and ordering attacks on civilians and religious buildings, allegedly committed between December 2013 and August 2014
Status: Awaiting judgment at the ICC after his trial, which began in February 2021 and concluded with closing statements in December 2024
Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, suspected “most senior leader” and national general coordinator of the Anti-Balaka militia
Charge: War crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, persecution, and the forcible transfer of populations, allegedly committed between December 2013 and December 2014 in the Central African Republic
Status: Awaiting judgment at the ICC after his trial, which began in February 2021 alongside co-accused Alfred Yekatom; a decision is expected soon.
Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, former high-ranking commander of the Seleka rebel militia in the Central African Republic
Charge: Crimes against humanity and war crimes, including forced imprisonment, torture, and enforced disappearances, primarily targeting supporters of former president François Bozizé
Status: On trial at the ICC; the prosecution concluded its case in November 2024, and the defense is scheduled to present its case starting March 17, 2025.
For more details: Who are ICC suspect Duterte’s neighbors in the Hague detention center?
– with research by Laurice Angeles and Jodesz Gavilan/Rappler.com