Former Executive Secretary lawyer Salvador Medialdea on Monday said former President Rodrigo Duterte is fine, yet he misses his usual activities and favorite Filipino dishes such as maruya (banana fritter), mongo, and dried fish.
Medialdea was able to visit Duterte at the detention center and said that the former president told him that he is still adjusting to his situation and sleep pattern in The Hague, Netherlands. The Philippines is seven hours ahead of the Netherlands.
“Okay naman siya he is in very high spirits, naisip niya ang mga sumusuporta sa kanya. Nagpapasalamat siya sa inyong lahat, tuloy nyo lang ang dasal. Isa sa mga nami-miss niya yung usual niyang kinakain yung tuyo, yung mongo at higit sa lahat yung pritong saging. Other than that he’s okay, but lets keep on praying for him,” Medialdea said.
Meanwhile, during a virtual press conference on Monday, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte has been brought to the “clinic” of the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s detention facility in The Hague.
“I also need to underscore this, siya po ngayon ay nasa kumbaga parang clinic nung facility na ‘yun dahil he’s still being monitored. Ang problema nga kasi, nagkulang siya ng gamot talaga,” Roque said.
Roque, said that medicines of the former president were delivered as well as a pair of slippers and socks that the latter requested. He said that the detention facility also accommodated Duterte’s meal request for rice aside from Dutch food.
“Although alam ng mga doktor ang gamot do’n, ang aking huling narinig is they are providing him with substitute medicine. Kaya nga po kagabi, nag-deliver kami ng totoong medicine niya with letter and prescription para makita nila na hindi na dapat substitute medicine ang ibigay kung hindi ‘yung talagang mga gamot na ni [dating] presidente,” he added.
“Iniwan din namin yung tsinelas na ni-request niya at saka medyas at ang medyas na binigay naming ay yung colorful na medyas. Having said that, ano ang mga gamot ng pangulo? That is covered by the right to privacy,” Roque said.
During the initial hearing in his case, Duterte faced the International Criminal Court (ICC) via video link as Medialdea claimed that he had “debilitating medical issues.”
Presiding judge Iulia Motoc, however, said the court doctor had found the former president “fully mentally aware and fit”.
Roque clarified that the former president was deemed fit to appear but he was deemed fit only to appear by video.
“He was deemed fit to appear, but it was also deemed fit that he would only appear by video. Malinaw po ‘yun. Kaya nga hindi na siya pina-appear. But he’s deemed fit, it’s only for purposes of appearance by video. So that says a lot,” he said.
The former president appeared briefly via video link during the initial hearing when he confirmed his identity and his date of birth.
The ICC set the confirmation of charges hearing of the former president on September 23, 2025.
