UPDATE 4 - Philippines' ex-President Duterte en route to The Hague to face trial

UPDATES WITH DETAILS; REVISES LEDE

By Aamir Latif and Berk Kutay Gokmen

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Arrested on Tuesday for alleged crimes against humanity during his "war on drugs," former Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte is en route to The Hague on Wednesday to face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ex-president was flown to The Hague to face trial at the ICC on Tuesday evening, after being arrested at the Manila airport on his arrival from Hong Kong on Tuesday morning.

Duterte's daughter and the country's Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday also left for The Hague to help arrange the legal team of her father.

"Further details regarding the Vice President’s trip will be provided as necessary,” her office said, according to the local English daily Phil Star.

Duterte boarded a charter flight at the Villamor Airbase of the Philippines at 9 p.m. (local time), according to one of his lawyers, Martin Delgra III.

Footage shared by retired Gen. Filmore Escobal and aired on multiple broadcasters showed Duterte attired in a black coat and pants and a white t-shirt disembarking a bus surrounded by plain-clothes security personnel.

Duterte, who appeared to be shocked, shook hands with a man before security personnel escorted him to the plane.

A still image published by the local English daily Phil Star showed Duterte sitting on a seat in the plane with his seatbelt fastened and eyes closed.

He is accompanied by his former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, a nurse, and a personal assistant, Delgra told reporters.

- 'This is not justice'

The Philippine National Police placed all police regional offices and national support units on heightened alert amid rising political tensions following Duterte's arrest.

Vice President Sara Duterte said her father was being "forcibly" taken to The Hague.

The 79-year-old was taken into custody after his arrival at Manila airport from Hong Kong, at the request of the ICC.

In a statement, Sara said Manila has "surrendered" the former president to "foreign powers."

"This is a blatant affront to our sovereignty and an insult to every Filipino who believes in our nation’s independence," she said.

"Worse, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is being denied his fundamental rights. Since he was taken this morning, he has not been brought before any competent judicial authority to assert his rights and to allow him to avail of reliefs provided by law," she added.

"This is not justice—this is oppression and persecution."

- 'Government is just doing its job

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told a press conference that Duterte's arrest did not break any laws, state news agency PNA reported.

He said the government was merely complying with the International Criminal Police Organization’s (Interpol) request to enforce the ICC order.

“It’s a request to the Philippine government from Interpol to enforce the arrest warrant and of course, we comply with our commitments to Interpol,” the president said.

He also denied claims that Duterte was being politically persecuted, stressing that the government is obliged to honor the terms of its membership with Interpol.

He said the case started in 2017 "when we were still members of the ICC and it was during the time of former president Duterte."

"So, I don’t see how that can be political persecution on my part because it was initiated before I even came into the picture," he added. "Again, the government is just doing its job."