Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made his first appearance at the International Criminal Court in The Hague in the Netherlands on Friday, via videolink, as he faces allegations of crimes against humanity over his deadly war on drugs. ICC handout/Flickr

MANILA — Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea was able to visit former President Rodrigo Duterte for the second time inside the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility in Scheveningen on Monday, March 17.

According to Medialdea, the former President looks well and was already able to catch up on some sleep.

“Okay naman siya, he’s in very high spirits ... Ano lang siya, naiisip niya ang mga sumusuporta sa kanya, nagpapasalamat siya sa inyong lahat,” he said.

“Isa sa medyo namimiss niya yung kanyang usual na kinakain, yung tuyo, yung munggo, at higit sa lahat yung piniritong saging. Yun ang nawawala sa kanya. Other than that, he’s okay, ipagdasal, keep on praying for him,” he continued.

Rodrigo Duterte at ICC: What happens next?

Medialdea also said that the former President is still in the hospital wing of the facility, same as what Vice President Sara Duterte said when she visited her father last Friday, March 14.

Medialdea is currently the only listed legal counsel on the ICC Registry’s list. Other visitors are made to file requests and fill up a series of documentation, before every visit. Because of this, Vice President Duterte, Atty. Harry Roque and Senator Robin Padilla filed a request for a 7-day visit that should’ve started Saturday, March 15 and lasting up to Friday, March 21. 

However, they have yet to receive a decision from the ICC.

In a morning Zoom presscon with Philippine media in The Hague, Roque initially said that the Vice President will try to have herself listed as a personal legal counsel for the former President to address the visitation situation.

Palace: Rule of law comes first, not 'utang na loob' to Duterte over Marcos Sr. burial

"Nakita po ni VP Sara si President last Friday, hindi po siya nakapagpirma ng conforme to legal representation. Ang una pong nakalagay don ay yung pangalan ko at pangalan ni VP Sara," Roque said.

"Kaya naman po si VP Sara is being accredited as legal counsel, para nga po magkaroon siya ng right to visit in and out na unfettered. Kasi kung relative, kada pasok mo, meron kang applicaiton na pipirmahan. Pero as legal counsel, she will have right to confer with President Duterte ‘no, as required. So mas gusto namin yon pero hindi po yan paglabag sa kahit na anong probisyon ng ating domestic law. Yan po ay para lang siya ay makapag labas masok dun sa detention," he added.

But during an update in the afternoon, Roque corrected himself and clarified that the Vice President will not enlist as a legal counsel for her father due to a provision under the 1897 Philippine Constitution that prohibits this.

“Lilinawin ko lang po yung mga lumalabas na report, hindi po magiging abugado ng Presidente si VP Sara dahil sa Saligang Batas natin ay merong pagbabawal sa pag-practice ng propesyon. So ang kanyang karapatan pogn bumisita ay birang anak. So ulitin hindi siya papasok bilang abugado,” Roque said.

Duterte provided ‘overwhelming evidence’ for his conviction: expert

Article VII, Section 13 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states the following: The President, Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, and their deputies or assistants shall not, unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, hold any other office or employment during their tenure. They shall not, during said tenure, directly or indirectly, practice any other profession, participate in any business, or be financially interested in any contract with, or in any franchise, or special privilege granted by the Government or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries. They shall strictly avoid conflict of interest in the conduct of their office.

Roque, along with the Vice President and Senator Padilla is still hoping for the ICC Registry to grant their request. Roque also said that they brought the former President’s prescription medicine, along with personal items to the detention facility last night, but they are not sure if it was delivered to him.

Duterte, 79, faces crimes against humanity charges over his deadly crackdown on drugs during his administration. 

He failed to attend in person an initial hearing at the ICC, instead following the short hearing via videolink. During the brief hearing, he was informed of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, as well as his rights as a defendant.

Duterte is the first ex-Asian head of state charged by the ICC.

RELATED VIDEO: