Duterte ‘generally fine’ in ICC custody – PH Embassy in The Hague
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte joked to photographers as he held an Israeli-made Galil rifle at Camp Crame in suburban Quezon City northeast of Manila, Philippines on April 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Embassy in The Hague on Friday (Manila time) said former President Rodrigo Duterte has received medical care and is “generally fine” in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The embassy also said it received a call from an ICC Detention Officer at 3:41 p.m. on Thursday (Central European time), informing them that Duterte requested to speak with a consular officer.
READ: ICC: Rodrigo Duterte being held at detention center in Scheveningen
“During the call, the former President conveyed, among others, that he underwent medical check-up and has received medical care and that he is generally fine,” the Philippine Embassy in The Hague said in a statement.
Duterte said the Embassy then requested a visit by Embassy consular officials and asked for assistance in the request for a visit by his legal counsel and family member.
“Thereupon, the Embassy made such request to the Registry of the ICC to facilitate a Consular Visit to the former President as soon as possible,” the Embassy said.
“The Embassy also made a follow-up on the request for a visit by his legal counsel and his family member,” it added.
According to the Embassy, upon Duterte’s arrival at the Rotterdam-The Hague Airport on Wednesday, the ICC handed him the names and contact details of Embassy officials who he can reach by mobile phone for any consular assistance.
The Embassy also said that Duterte has already talked to former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who serves as one of his legal counsels.
The ICC has taken custody of the elder Duterte after he was arrested in the Philippines and sent to The Hague. He is facing a case at the ICC for crimes against humanity he allegedly committed during his administration’s war against drugs.
READ: ICC cites reasonable grounds in issuing arrest order for Duterte
The drug war reportedly left at least 6,000 people dead, but human rights groups reported at least 20,000 were killed.
