ICC Detention Officer Calls PH Embassy in The Hague over Duterte
PH EMBASSY – The Philippine Embassy in The Hague revealed that they received a call from former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Philippines’ former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is now under the custody of the International Criminal Court after the ICC issued a warrant of arrest against him. The issue stems on the allegations of crimes over his administration’s war on drugs.
Duterte is currently detained at the ICC detention center in Scheveningen. Previously, countless Filipinos were left wondering when former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea said that he was told that no Rodrigo Duterte was admitted at the Hague Penitentiary Institution.
After a while, ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah clarified that Duterte is at the ICC detention center in Scheveningen. Recently, the PH Embassy in the Netherlands also claimed that the former Philippine President made a call to them.
On its official Facebook page, the PH Embassy in The Hague posted a statement revealing they got a call from an International Criminal Court (ICC) Detention Officer at 3:41 PM local time (10:41 PM Manila time). They were told about the request of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte to speak to a consular officer.
Duterte told the consular officer that he underwent medical check-up and has received medical care. The former President stressed that he is generally fine. Based on the post, he also made a call to former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea but it is unclear as to the time when they were able to talk.
Today, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is set to appear before the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC. It is part of the regulations of the ICC that a “suspect” undergoes two (2) trials before any actual trial takes place.
According to ICC, Duterte may apply for an interim release but it does not bring a full liberty as there are regulations under it. Also, the granting of the interim release lies in the hands of the ICC.
Former Pres. Duterte remains a candidate for mayor in Davao City despite his arrest. His daughter, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, is set to see him in The Hague. His son, Davao Congressman Paolo Duterte, also filed for a permission to fly to the Netherlands to see him.