ICC: Duterte at the detention center, underwent medical check

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'Duterte is under ICC custody at the ICC detention centre in Scheveningen. He was admitted today following all medical checks,' says the ICC spokesperson

MANILA, Philippines – Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is at the detention center of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the court quickly clarified on Thursday, March 13, after getting wind of a claim by his lawyer that the former president was not inside.

“We are told that there is no President Duterte at this facility, we are at a loss at this time and lokohan na ‘to (this is foolish),” former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea told ABS-CBN in an interview outside of the Scheveningen detention center, the jail facilities of the ICC.

Quickly, ICC Spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah sent a blast notice to the press that Duterte was inside the jail cell.

“Duterte is under ICC custody at the ICC detention centre in Scheveningen. He was admitted today following all medical checks,” said El Abdallah.

“When a suspect arrives in ICC custody, the Court as standard practice takes measures to protect the health and well-being of the suspect,” the ICC spokesperson added.

Duterte arrived in the Netherlands on Wednesday, March 12, via a chartered plane from Manila, after an unprecedented arrest via Interpol that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr assisted, claiming that it was his duty as a leader of a country with commitments to the international order.

Medialdea also claimed that he was forced to go on the plane without a visa. The Philippine embassy in the Netherlands said that upon landing, they have already secured a 15-day visa for Medialdea so he can assist Duterte.

Duterte will go through an initial proceeding at the ICC, where he will face the court for the first time either voluntarily or via summons. He is free to contract any lawyers as long as they are accredited by the ICC. The ICC can also appoint a counsel for him among their existing pool.

“The Court will announce in due course the schedule for the initial appearance. We recall the importance of respecting the integrity of the judicial process,” said ICC’s El Abdallah.

Duterte will be read his charges of murder as crimes against humanity as an “indirect co-perpetrator” of the extrajudicial killings that happened under his war on drugs, and by the Davao Death Squad.

After the initial proceedings, Duterte will attend a confirmation of charges hearing.

Duterte can apply for an interim release if he can convince the ICC judges that there is no risk of him escaping, no risk of him obstructing justice by threatening and intimidating witnesses, and no risk of him again committing the crimes he is being accused of.

Victims will get the chance to make their positions known to the court. – Rappler.com