Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea visited former President Rodrigo Duterte for the second time at the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility in Scheveningen on Monday, March 17.
According to Medialdea, Duterte is in good spirits and has finally caught up on some sleep.
“Okay naman siya, he’s in very high spirits … Ano lang siya, naiisip niya ang mga sumusuporta sa kanya, nagpapasalamat siya sa inyong lahat,” he said.
However, Medialdea noted that Duterte misses his usual meals, particularly tuyo, munggo, and piniritong saging. “Other than that, he’s okay, ipagdasal, keep on praying for him,” he added.
Duterte remains in the facility’s hospital wing, as Vice President Sara Duterte also confirmed during her visit on March 14.
Medialdea, the only listed legal counsel on the ICC Registry for Duterte, explained that other visitors must go through an extensive application process. Due to this, Vice President Duterte, Atty. Harry Roque, and Senator Robin Padilla filed a request for a seven-day visit from March 15 to March 21. However, the ICC has yet to respond.
During a Zoom press conference in The Hague, Roque mentioned that VP Duterte initially sought accreditation as a legal counsel to facilitate easier visits.
“Nakita po ni VP Sara si President last Friday, hindi po siya nakapagpirma ng conforme to legal representation. Ang una pong nakalagay don ay yung pangalan ko at pangalan ni VP Sara,” Roque said.
He explained that being accredited as legal counsel would grant her unrestricted visitation rights, unlike relatives who must apply for each visit. However, in an afternoon update, Roque corrected himself, clarifying that VP Duterte cannot serve as her father’s legal counsel due to a provision in the 1987 Philippine Constitution prohibiting public officials from practicing other professions.
“Lilinawin ko lang po yung mga lumalabas na report, hindi po magiging abugado ng Presidente si VP Sara dahil sa Saligang Batas natin ay merong pagbabawal sa pag-practice ng propesyon. So ang kanyang karapatan pogn bumisita ay bilang anak,” Roque clarified.
Despite this, Roque, VP Duterte, and Senator Padilla remain hopeful for approval of their visit request. They also delivered Duterte’s prescription medicine and personal items to the detention facility, though it is unclear if they reached him.
Duterte, 79, faces crimes against humanity charges over his administration’s war on drugs. He attended his initial ICC hearing via videolink, where he was informed of the charges against him and his rights as a defendant.
Duterte is the first former Asian head of state to be charged by the ICC.
