Former President Rodrigo Duterte has requested a visit from his legal counsel and family members at his detention cell at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
In a statement on Friday morning, the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands said Duterte sought its assistance through a call from an ICC detention officer at 3:41 p.m. (Central European Time).
During the call, the former chief executive, who was brought to the ICC over alleged crimes against humanity linked to his drug war in the Philippines, conveyed that he “underwent medical check-up and has received medical care and that he is generally fine.”
“The former President then requested a visit by Embassy consular officials, and also asked the Embassy to assist in the request for a visit by his legal counsel and family member, respectively,” the embassy said.
“Thereupon, the Embassy made such request to the Registry of the ICC to facilitate a Consular Visit to the former President as soon as possible. The Embassy also made a follow-up on the request for a visit by his legal counsel and his family member,” it added.
“As can be recalled, upon arrangements by the Embassy, ICC officials handed to the former President upon arrival at the Rotterdam-The Hague Airport on Wednesday the names and contact numbers of Embassy officials who can be reached by mobile phone for any consular assistance that he may need,” it continued.
On the same day, the embassy said Duterte was given a chance to speak with his former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, whom he said wants to be one of his counsels in the ICC proceedings.
Duterte is scheduled to make his initial appearance before the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 at 9 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time) on Friday, 14 March.
Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, the youngest daughter of Duterte, called on Filipinos to light a candle and pray for her father ahead of his first appearance before the tribunal.
“I am calling unto you, not as his supporters, but as Filipinos, to stand for what is right and light a candle, whether you are in the Philippines or abroad. Let us be one in prayer and one in upholding our rights to this sovereignty,” she wrote in an Instagram story on Friday afternoon.
Duterte is suspected of murder qualified as a crime against humanity, allegedly committed in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019.