The Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands has confirmed that it is extending consular assistance to former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who has been in detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) since Wednesday, March 12.

In a statement released on March 13, the Embassy disclosed that it received a call from an ICC Detention Officer at 3:41 p.m. CET, informing them that Duterte had requested to speak with a consular officer. During the conversation, the former President assured officials that he had undergone a medical check-up, received medical care, and was “generally fine.”

Following the call, Duterte formally requested a visit from Philippine consular officials and sought assistance in facilitating visits from both his legal counsel and a family member. The Embassy has since relayed these requests to the ICC’s Registry, seeking to arrange a consular visit at the earliest possible time.

“The Embassy made such a request to the Registry of the ICC to facilitate a consular visit to the former President as soon as possible,” the statement read, adding that it also followed up on the requests for legal and family visits.

Duterte’s detention at the ICC comes as part of the ongoing legal proceedings related to the court’s investigation into alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Philippine government’s war on drugs during his presidency. The former leader, who left office in 2022, had long rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction and previously dismissed its probe as politically motivated.

Upon his arrival at Rotterdam-The Hague Airport on Wednesday, ICC officials, with coordination from the Philippine Embassy, provided Duterte with the names and contact details of embassy officials who could be reached for any consular assistance. The Embassy’s latest statement affirms that these lines of communication remain open.

Additionally, on March 13, Duterte made a separate phone call to former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, one of his legal counsels, further indicating his efforts to coordinate his legal defense.

As the ICC process unfolds, Philippine officials continue to monitor the situation while providing consular support. Further developments are expected as the Embassy awaits ICC approval for official visits.