Senator Robinhood Padilla, currently in The Hague, Netherlands, shared a photo on Facebook of former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, who is serving as defense counsel for former president Rodrigo Duterte. In the post, Medialdea is seen sitting in a wheelchair and appears pale.
"Ang tunay na magkaibigan, magkakabit ang bituka at magkadugtong ang kaluluwa. As'alu Allah al-'Azim rabbil 'Arshil Azim an yashifika. I ask Allah, the Mighty, the Lord of the Mighty Throne, to cure you," Senator Padilla wrote in his caption.
The ICC spokesperson, however, neither confirmed nor disclosed any details regarding Medialdea's private matter.
This comes after a report from the ICC spokesperson regarding the supposed medical emergency of Atty. Salvador Medialdea at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Netherlands. "I have no information, but in general, we do not comment on private life matters," the ICC spokesperson said.
During the initial hearing, Medialdea questioned the legality of Duterte's arrest and transfer, describing it as an "extrajudicial rendition" and a "kidnapping."
He further stated that he had not been given enough time to discuss the case with Duterte and claimed that the former president had not been provided with a hard copy of the arrest warrant.
The Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands said Tuesday that Atty. Salvador Medialdea fell ill while registering at the reception around 8:55 AM on 18 March during a visit to the ICC Detention Center to see former president Duterte.
The embassy added that medical assistance was provided on-site, and an ambulance transported Medialdea to a hospital in The Hague, where he is receiving treatment. A close relative of Medialdea is also at the hospital.