Philippine embassy extends consular assistance to Duterte ahead of his ICC appearance
The Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands extended its consular assistance to former president Rodrigo Duterte, who's now under the custody of the International Criminal Court.
In a Facebook post on March 13, the embassy said an ICC detention officer called at 3:41 p.m. CET (10:41 p.m., Philippine time) to inform that Duterte had requested to speak with a consular officer.
During the call, Duterte confirmed he underwent medical check-up and has received medical care and that he is generally fine, according to the embassy.
He also requested a visit by embassy consular officials, as well as 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 agency said, adding it made a follow-up on the request.
The embassy also noted that Duterte spoke with former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea on the phone that day. He would also be named as one of his legal counsels.
Earlier, the embassy prepared, procured, and delivered winter clothing, change of clothes, and care packages for Duterte, his accompanying delegation, and the plane's crew members.
ICC says it recalls importance of 'respecting the integrity of the judicial process'
Duterte is inside the ICC detention facility in Scheveningen, it noted after Medialdea said he didn't see the former president after deplaning at The Hague and claimed that there was a "grand plan to kidnap" him.
ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah told reporters on Thursday, March 13 that Duterte is under their custody.
"He was admitted today following all medical checks," Abdallah said. "When a suspect arrives in ICC custody, the Court as standard practice takes measures to protect the health and well-being of the suspect."
"We recall the importance of respecting the integrity of the judicial process," he added.
This came after Medialdea, in a video interview outside the detention center earlier in the day, said they asked the ICC to bring Duterte to the hospital upon landing.
According to him, the ICC agreed but didn't specify which hospital they were bringing Duterte to.
Medialdea then claimed that he was told Duterte wasn't inside the detention facility.
"They gave the assurance that he will be brought to a hospital, and I asked for the name of the hospital," he said. "Up to now, they have not given us the name of the hospital. So we took the position that he could have been brought here directly. We are told that there is no President Duterte inside the facility."
“We are at a loss at this time, and lokohan na ‘to," he added. "I think this is part of their grand plan to kidnap the president, to extract from the Philippines and bring to a jet without a known destination."
Duterte's arrest
Duterte was arrested on March 11 and was brought to the Villamor Air Base upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Hong Kong.
His arrest had been years in the making, beginning in October 2016 when then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said they were watching the Philippines closely as killings under the Duterte administration were on the rise just four months since he assumed office.
As stated in the warrant obtained by The Philippine STAR, he was arrested for murder, torture, and rape—which are part of the 15 forms of crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute—in connection with his administration's bloody war on drugs called Oplan Tokhang that saw the execution of thousands of suspected drug peddlers, users, and small-time criminals.
He left the country at 11:03 p.m. of the same day and arrived at the Rotterdam The Hague airport at 11:54 p.m. (Philippine time) the following day.
Duterte could be the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
Duterte is set to make an initial appearance before the ICC on March 14 at 14:00 (9 p.m. Philippine time).
Judges would verify his identity and the language in which he would be able to follow the proceedings. He will be informed of the charges against him and of his rights under the ICC Rome Statute.
Following this appearance, a confirmation of charges hearing will follow, during which the judges will decide whether the prosecution has presented enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
If the charges are confirmed, it could be months before the case eventually goes on trial, and years before a final judgment is rendered.
