MANILA — Former president Rodrigo Duterte is under continuous monitoring inside the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility in The Hague due to age-related health concerns and risk of falls, according to the ICC Registry.
Duterte’s legal team claims he has constant episodes of falling.
The ICC Registry, however, showed the falls to be rare.
In a seven-page document, the ICC Registry disclosed that Duterte is classified as an “elderly detained person” whose movements and physical condition require close supervision while he remains in detention for crimes against humanity charges tied to alleged killings during his anti-drug campaign.
The Registry said Duterte has several chronic physical ailments and is being regularly assessed by medical personnel and specialists, although it refused to disclose specific details because of medical confidentiality rules.
“Regarding his loss of balance, the [medical officer] and Mr. Duterte’s medical specialists are responsible for assessments that are on a medical level,” the ICC Registry said.
“From the perspective of management and operational security, Mr. Duterte’s movements are consistent with his age and mobility,” it added.
The ICC Registry also confirmed that Duterte had reportedly fallen on rare occasions inside the detention facility, prompting authorities to introduce modifications to his cell and surrounding areas.
“Following these rare events, adjustments have been made to his cell, to better accommodate his comfort and movement, and are adjusted as needed,” the document read.
It added that custody staff immediately assisted Duterte and requested medical assessments whenever such incidents occurred.
The Registry said ergonomic adjustments were also introduced in Duterte’s visiting rooms to ensure safer and more stable movement while inside the ICC detention center.
“The Registry recalls that the medical record is available to Mr. Duterte and therefore his Defence team, and the continual medical care of Mr. Duterte remains assured and under constant attention,” it said.
Duterte remains detained in The Hague while facing charges of crimes against humanity for murder and attempted murder linked to alleged killings during his tenure as Davao City mayor and later as president.
The former chief executive has repeatedly denied the allegations./PN
