The Duterte family has once again taken center stage in a spectacle that critics say reeks of political theater rather than genuine concern, this time over claims that former president Rodrigo Duterte was found unconscious in his detention room at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Vice President Sara Duterte issued a statement Saturday alleging that her father required laboratory tests after collapsing, further accusing the ICC of “cruelty” for supposedly neglecting his health. But observers note that the Dutertes are recycling their old playbook—crying foul and painting Duterte as a victim—while skirting the core issue: the charges he faces for the thousands of killings under his bloody “war on drugs.”
Manufactured outrage
In her statement, Sara Duterte blasted the ICC for allegedly ignoring even “an easily treatable ingrown toenail” and failing to provide a 24-hour caregiver. She described her father as an “abducted” elderly man deprived of dignity. Yet diplomats and the Department of Foreign Affairs clarified that all consular visits follow international law and detainees’ consent, adding that the government has no knowledge of any medical emergency.
Analysts say this is classic Duterte spin—turning accountability into melodrama. “It’s always the same narrative: shift the spotlight away from crimes against humanity and onto supposed mistreatment. It’s a tactic to discredit institutions and elicit sympathy,” one political observer remarked.
Ignoring the bigger picture
While the family fixates on toenails and bedside caregivers, the elephant in the room remains the staggering death toll linked to Duterte’s drug war. Between 2011 and 2019, thousands were killed in operations condemned worldwide as systematic and state-sanctioned violence. These atrocities form the backbone of the ICC’s case, not the former president’s age or his health quirks.
Even Duterte’s legal team has leaned on claims of “cognitive impairment” to stall proceedings, an argument critics call both convenient and questionable. “They’re trying to frame him as too weak to stand trial but strong enough to lead public sympathy campaigns through his daughter,” another analyst noted.
Political theater in the making
The Dutertes have long thrived on spectacle—whether through fiery speeches, public spats, or exaggerated displays of victimhood. This latest episode in The Hague is no different. Instead of facing the accusations head-on, the family seems intent on scripting yet another drama, hoping to sway public opinion and undermine the credibility of international institutions.
But the world is watching. And no amount of theatrics can erase the brutal legacy that brought Duterte to The Hague in the first place.