Duterte siblings visit former President Rodrigo Duterte at the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague. (Photo courtesy of Congressman Paolo “Pulong” Duterte Facebook page)
THE HAGUE / MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte has confirmed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has directed her family not to publicly share information from their visits with her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been in ICC custody since March over alleged crimes against humanity tied to the Philippine government’s anti-drug campaign.
Speaking outside the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague, Sara Duterte said the family had been “reminded” of strict conditions governing detainee visits, including a prohibition on public disclosure of conversations or circumstances inside the facility.
“All I can say is that my father is alive,” she told reporters, declining to provide further details in line with ICC instructions.
Case status
Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in the Philippines on March 11, 2025, under an ICC warrant, and transferred to The Hague a day later. He made his initial court appearance on March 14. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber has scheduled a confirmation-of-charges hearing for September 23, 2025, where judges will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Until a conviction, he is presumed innocent.
Duterte faces accusations of crimes against humanity linked to extrajudicial killings during the “war on drugs.” He has denied wrongdoing.
Why the ICC enforces confidentiality
According to ICC detention regulations, family visits are permitted but subject to conditions imposed by the Registrar. The rules specifically allow the Court to restrict public disclosure of visit details if sharing information could compromise judicial proceedings, infringe on detainee rights, or violate facility protocols. Similar conditions have been applied in previous ICC cases to protect the integrity of ongoing hearings.
What this means
The ICC’s directive leaves the Duterte family unable to update the public on the former president’s welfare beyond confirming his continued detention. No changes have been announced regarding his case schedule, and the family has complied with the confidentiality rules.
The September 23 hearing in The Hague remains the next critical stage in proceedings that could move the case toward trial.
