3 days ago
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MANILA, Philippines – Former president Rodrigo Duterte, now a suspect of crimes against humanity, will spend the foreseeable future inside a detention center as he faces his case at the International Criminal Court.
Duterte was arrested on March 11 following the issuance of a warrant in relation to his flagship anti-illegal drug campaign, which resulted in at least 6,2000 deaths in police operations alone by May 2022. The number reaches 30,000 to include those killed vigilante-style, as estimated by human rights organizations.
FACADE. Outside of the ICC Detention Center in The Hague, The Netherlands.He was flown out of the country several hours after his arrival from Hong Kong, on board a chartered flight, and expected to arrive in the Netherlands, the seat of the ICC, past midnight of Thursday, March 13 (Philippine time). Duterte’s departure marked the end of a whirlwind of events that started from rumors to the actual confirmation of the Philippine government that a warrant had been issued against him.
What awaits the former president in The Hague — just a 30-minute drive from Rotterdam Airport where his plane is expected to land — are things that his administration denied to his victims. This city, after all, is known as the International City of Peace and Justice where people “work towards creating a more peaceful, just and safe world.”
‘Safe, secure and humane custody’
The ICC Detention Center can be found in Scheveningen, The Hague. It is located inside a prison complex run by the Netherlands and is where individuals suspected of crimes spend time while proceedings related to their cases are ongoing. It is a “safe, secure, and humane custody,” and not for carrying out sentences. Those already convicted usually serve their sentences under the custody of an ICC member-state, not necessarily in The Hague.
Duterte is expected to spend time inside the ICC Detention Center while the court’s judges decide after the confirmation of charges whether there is enough evidence for the case to go into trial. That is what happened in the case of Mahamat Said Abdel Kani, who first appeared before a pre-trial chamber in January 2021, only for the confirmation of charges hearing to take place in October 2021. The pre-trial chamber committed him to trial by December 2021.
CENTER. A building inside the Dutch facility that houses the ICC Detention Center.According to the ICC website, the process usually takes no more than 60 days. That’s enough time for Duterte to get well acquainted with the detention center.
There is nothing to worry about his safety and well-being while inside. The ICC Registrar, the unit responsible for the management of the Detention Center, “endeavors to ensure the mental, physical, and spiritual welfare of the detained persons within an efficient system of detention, with consideration to their cultural diversity and their development as individuals.”
In fact, the International Committee of the Red Cross is given “unrestricted access” to the ICC Detention Center. This means that staff could pay unannounced visits to examine “the treatment of the detained persons, their living conditions and their physical and psychological conditions, in conformity with widely accepted international standards governing the treatment of persons deprived of liberty.”
HALLWAY. The hallway inside the Detention Center of the ICC leading to sleeping quarters.What Duterte’s days could look like
Duterte can expect to wake up in a room that widely exceeds the quality of a prison cell in the Philippines. For one, he will not share it with anyone — unlike the thousands of Filipinos crammed into overcrowded prisons during his own drug war, many of whom were stuck behind bars for years as their cases dragged through delayed trials. He will also have his own bed, toilet, sink, and a television set too.
Duterte, who once urged parents to kill their own children who use illegal drugs, will be given a daily program where he would be allowed access to fresh air and spend time doing recreational activities, including sports, inside the detention center’s well-maintained gym. He can also read library books and stay in touch with what’s happening in the Philippines by watching the news on TV.
SLEEPING QUARTERS. A detained individual will occupy one room. 
FOR MEALS. The communal area inside the ICC Detention Center.Food will be provided by the ICC. The meals are expected to “satisfy in quality and quantity the standards of dietetics and modern hygiene.” Duterte, if he pleases, can also cook his own meals. He would just need to buy the ingredients through a process provided by the Detention Center.
His team also does not need to worry about not being able to reach Duterte. According to the ICC, each detained person has a computer in his or her own cell that is connected to a specific computer in the Court. The defense team then can upload documents and other case-related files to this computer for the defendant’s use.
Duterte, who is almost 80 years old, can even avail of the ICC’s computer training services if he’s not that attuned to new technology. If he’s looking for more opportunities to widen his skills, Duterte can also take up language classes that the ICC offers.
CLINIC. A medical clinic inside the ICC Detention Center.
FRESH AIR. A detained individual can go out for fresh air and sports. Who’s allowed to visit
Respect for human rights is at the core of the ICC’s work, and that includes rights of a detainee. One that is given importance is the right to privacy. This means Duterte will be able to communicate with both his defense team and the Philippine diplomatic representative without anyone listening in. Detention Center staff will not monitor, record, or interfere in these exchanges, whether they happen in person, through letters, or some other method.
Legal and diplomatic visits aren’t the only ones that matter. A detainee can also meet with a minister or spiritual advisor and provide for guidance, reflection, or prayer. These meetings take place in a designated area within the center for privacy and respect for their beliefs.
Most importantly, the ICC makes sure that family visits are a priority. The Registry even helps families navigate the process to make it easier for them to stay connected with their loved one inside.
So if former first lady Honeylet Avanceña, or any of Duterte’s children, including Vice President Sara Duterte, wants to visit, they can expect good treatment from the Court that the family patriarch spent years insulting and threatening. – Rappler.com
