THE HAGUE — The whereabouts of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte remain unknown nearly 24 hours after his reported transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC), his legal team and family members said Thursday.
Salvador Medialdea, Duterte’s former executive secretary and acting legal counsel, attempted to visit him at The Hague Penitentiary but was informed that the former leader was not inside the facility.
“We were told there is no Rodrigo Duterte in this facility,” Medialdea said in a Facebook livestream outside the penitentiary, where a group of Filipinos had gathered.
The unexpected development has fueled concerns among Duterte’s allies. “We’re at a loss right now. We don’t know where he is,” Medialdea said.
He also alleged irregularities in Duterte’s transfer, claiming he was forced to board the plane to The Hague without a valid visa. “This is part of their grand plan to kidnap the president, to extract the president from the Philippines,” he added.
Medialdea stated that Duterte may have been taken to a hospital, but neither he nor the former president’s family had been officially informed. Vice President Sara Duterte and Duterte’s sons, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Representative Paolo Duterte, are seeking access to their father.
Medialdea said he would formally reach out to the ICC for clarification on Duterte’s status and location. The ICC has not yet issued a statement on the matter.