ICC adopts 'necessary measures' to ensure health of detainees —spokesperson

THE HAGUE —The International Criminal Court (ICC) has said it “adopts all necessary measures” to ensure the health of the suspects in its detention center, but declines to comment on the reported “skin and bones” condition of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is in its custody.

ICC spokesperson Fadi el Abdallah said this in response to GMA Integrated News’s request for comment.

“The ICC adopts all necessary measures to take care of the health and well-being of suspects who are in the ICC detention center,” el Abdallah wrote to GMA Integrated News. 

“We do not provide further comments on these matters in order to fully respect their private life,” he added.

Duterte’s former wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, first reported his “skin and bones” state, following her recent visit to the detention center.

Their daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, elaborated on her father’s condition in an interview on July 8, saying his medical officer has not reported anything urgent about his state.

“Mukha lang siyang may sakit, pero clearly wala naman ding siguro siyang sakit kasi wala namang sinasabing urgent yung medical officer sa amin,” she told reporters.

“Sa tingin ko lang yung weight loss niya ay dahil posible, unang-una lost of appetite dahil nga hindi siya sanay sa pagkain. At pangalawa, baka rin kasi kino-control ng medical officer yung pagkain niya kasi diabetic si Pangulong Duterte," she added.

(He looks sick, but clearly he might not have any condition because the medical officer hasn’t told us anything urgent. In my view, his weight loss may first have been caused by a loss of appetite because he’s not used to the food. Secondly, the medical officer might be controlling his food intake because he is diabetic.)

The confirmation of charges against Duterte is scheduled for September 23, 2025. —LDF, GMA Integrated News