THE HAGUE – Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said former President Rodrigo Duterte was not being held at The Hague Penitentiary Institution or the Scheveningen prison.
Medialdea said they were assured that Duterte would be taken to a hospital. However, when he asked for the hospital’s name, no details were provided.
"Up to now, they have not given the name of the hospital," he said. "So, we took the position that he could have been brought here directly."
Asked for comment, ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah said Duterte was at the ICC detention center in Scheveningen.
"He was admitted today following all medical checks. When a suspect arrives in ICC custody, the Court as standard practice takes measures to protect the health and well-being of the suspect," Abdallah said.
"The Court will announce in due course the schedule for the initial appearance," he added.
Medialdea said he was told that Duterte was not inside.
“We were told there is no Rodrigo Duterte in this facility,” Medialdea said, citing information from the penitentiary’s reception staff.
“We’re at a loss right now. We don’t know where he is,” he added.
He also said that the detention facility did not recognize his appearance at the penitentiary as part of Duterte’s legal counsel.
“Lokohan na ito [This is deception]. This is part of their grand plan to kidnap the president, to extract the president from the Philippines," Medialdea said.
"I was even forced to join that plane without a valid visa coming here. We are going back to the ICC and ask them where he is right now.”
The former Duterte cabinet official also said he spoke with Vice President Sara Duterte on the phone, who is also awaiting updates. However, he added that he is also unaware of her current location.
'Winter clothes, care packages'
Duterte was arrested in Manila early Tuesday morning for alleged crimes against humanity and brought to The Hague, where the ICC is located.
The ICC in a statement has said that it has taken custody of the former Philippine president.
On Wednesday night in The Hague (2:34 a.m. on Thursday, Philippine time), Duterte entered the penitentiary where he is set to be held while awaiting trial by the ICC for alleged "crimes against humanity" in his administration's war on drugs.
He was brought to prison in a black vehicle.
The Philippine embassy in The Hague said it provided consular assistance to Duterte and gave him winter clothes and care packages.
It said Duterte was turned over to officials of the Judicial Cooperation Unit of the Office of Registry of the ICC.
The Netherlands’ Immigration Authorities, meanwhile, granted those who escorted Duterte two-day visas.
Duterte supporters seek king's help
Earlier, a group of Filipinos arrived at the security gate of penitentiary, showing security personnel a printed document that allegedly stated visitors could visit individuals inside the penitentiary.
Security personnel denied their entry and advised them to contact the ICC to make an appointment.
After Medialdea’s remarks, the supporters shouted: “Where is Duterte?”
Luzviminda vander Becken, a 62-year-old Filipina based in Oudenaarde, Belgium, said their group now plans to write a letter to King Willem-Alexander of Netherlands to request support.
“Alam namin na mabait, mapagmahal, at respectful of Filipinos ang King of Netherlands,” said vander Becken, who was accompanied by her Belgian husband.
“Magre-request po kami kung puwedeng tulungang hanapin si Duterte. Tinitingnan po namin ang kalusugan ng dating pangulo.”
(We know that the King of the Netherlands is kind, loving, and respectful of Filipinos. We will request help to find Duterte. We want to check on the health of the former president.)
(Reports from Andy Peñafuerte, Jay-vee Marasigan Pangan, GMA Integrated News)
