The Hague, Mar 13 (EFE).- The International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was admitted to its detention center in The Hague, Netherlands, on Thursday after undergoing standard medical checks.
Duterte, 79, was extradited from Manila on Wednesday under an ICC arrest warrant issued on Mar. 7 for the alleged “crime against humanity of murder.”
ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah told reporters that Duterte arrived at the ICC Detention Center on Thursday afternoon.
“Duterte is under ICC custody at the ICC detention center. He was admitted today following all medical checks,” Abdallah said.
He explained that it is “standard practice” for the ICC to take measures to protect the “health and well-being” of suspects upon their arrival in custody.
Abdallah said that the schedule for Duterte’s first court appearance would be announced soon, emphasizing the importance of respecting the “integrity of the judicial process.”
Duterte will be informed of his rights, the charges against him, and the language he will use during the legal proceedings.
However, Abdallah declined to disclose where Duterte was held before his transfer to the detention center.
Earlier, former Philippine Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea expressed concerns about Duterte’s whereabouts, stating that his legal team was unaware of his exact location.
Duterte, who served as the Philippines’ president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested in Manila on Tuesday for crimes allegedly committed during his administration’s controversial “war on drugs.”
The ICC welcomed his arrest, saying it is part of the court’s “ongoing investigation” into the situation in the Philippines.
“There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Duterte bears criminal responsibility for the crime against humanity of murder,” the ICC said late Wednesday.
The ICC prosecutor alleges that Duterte, as the founder and leader of the Davao Death Squad and later as the country’s president, committed crimes between Nov. 1, 2011, and Mar. 16, 2019.
“Duterte is alleged to have committed these crimes as part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against the civilian population.”
The court described Duterte’s arrest as a “crucial step” toward ensuring accountability for victims of “the most serious crimes” under its jurisdiction.
“The Office is now commencing preparations towards the initial appearance and subsequent judicial proceedings before the Court.” EFE
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