Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands provides consular assistance to Duterte
The Philippine Embassy in The Hague in the Netherlands provided consular attendance to former president Rodrigo Duterte, who arrived there after the International Criminal Court arrested him for crimes against humanity amid his war on drugs.
In a Facebook post on March 13, the embassy said Duterte arrived at the Rotterdam Airport on board chartered flight RP-C5219 on March 12. Philippine authorities turned him over to the judicial cooperation unit of the ICC's office of registry.
Amid the winter season, the embassy said it prepared, procured, and delivered winter clothing, change of clothes, and care packages for Duterte, his accompanying delegation, and the plane's crew members.
The Netherlands' immigration authorities, meanwhile, gave two-day visas to those who escorted Duterte, including his nurse and aide, to allow them to rest and recover for their return flight.
Salvador Medialdea, former executive secretary whom Duterte tapped as legal counsel, was issued a 15-day visa and has been granted permission to visit Duterte on March 13 at the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen.
Ahead of Duterte's arrival, the embassy called the attention of the ICC officials and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials regarding the need to closely attend to Duterte due to his medical and physical conditions.
Upon arrival, an ICC nurse conferred with Duterte's personal nurse on his medical condition and requirements.
The ICC nurse has relayed the information received to the ICC medical doctor for Duterte's check-up upon arrival at the ICC Detention Center.
The embassy said the ICC officials also handed Duterte the names and contact numbers of officials who can be reached by mobile phone for any consular assistance that he may need.
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 to go to The Hague, where he would be tried by the ICC.
