Former President Rodrigo Duterte on March 11, 2025. Photo from Veronica "Kitty" Duterte's Instagram

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte was denied medical care following his arrest on an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged crimes against humanity during his "war on drugs", his son claimed Tuesday. 

“They want a prolonged standoff by using [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Major] General [Nicolas] Torre III to illegally detain and deny PRRD of medical care,” the former president’s son Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte said.

“It seems to me that they are trying to murder the old man,” he said on Facebook.

Ex-President Duterte was arrested earlier in the day after he landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Hong Kong.

In a separate Facebook post, Mayor Duterte alleged: “They are insisting that PRRD get on a plane to who knows where using an ICC warrant which does not have jurisdiction in this country.”

“Clowns behaving like clowns again. This has to end,” he said.

He also accused the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration of “fantasizing that this scenario would materialize, hoping that the issue on the national budget would just go away.”

The ex-President's daughter Veronica shared on Instagram a medical certificate recommending hospital admission for her father. 

The Duterte patriarch's "glucose level shot up to 328" despite taking medicine, the medical certificate said.

"He is advised [hospital] admission to avoid acute diabetic complications or DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis)," it added. 

Veronica alleged: "They aren't allowing my dad to seek the medical attention he badly needs." 

DUTERTE IN 'GOOD HEALTH': PALACE

But the Palace earlier said Duterte was in good health after his arrest.

"Ang dating Pangulo at ang kanyang grupo ay nasa mabuting kalusugan at sinuri ng mga doctor ng gobyerno. Sinigurado na siya ay nasa maayos na kalagayan," the Presidential Communications Office said.

Duterte has a "health concern" that requires regular medical attention, said one of his lawyers, former Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. 

Ex-President Duterte arrested on ICC warrant

“I’ve been his counsel ever since... They advised me that they will be bringing him either to Crame or Villamor and I will be allowed to escort him as counsel," Bello said. 

“Alam mo naman may konting karamdaman si Presidente… Regular check-up with his doctor," he added.

“In fact, he’s scheduled to visit his doctor tomorrow at 10 o’clock in the morning,” Bello said.

When asked about their possible next move, Bello said they were considering asking for a hospital arrest.

ICC issues arrest warrant vs Rodrigo Duterte, Palace confirms

“Yes. Assuming that there is a warrant of arrest,” he said.

Duterte questions ICC warrant of arrest, demands answers for ‘deprivation of liberty’

Duterte, 79, faces a charge of "the crime against humanity of murder", according to the ICC, for the crackdown in which rights groups estimate tens of thousands of mostly poor men were killed by officers and vigilantes, often without proof they were linked to drugs.

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