Former President Rodrigo Duterte has arrived safely in the Netherlands for his trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and has been turned over to officials from the Judicial Cooperation Unit of the Office of Registry, the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands said on Thursday.
Duterte landed in Rotterdam at 4:56 p.m. (11:56 p.m. Manila time) on Wednesday, according to the embassy. It assured that his medical needs are being attended to.
“Embassy officials earlier called the attention of ICC officials and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the need to closely monitor the former President’s medical and physical condition,” the embassy said on Thursday.
“Thereupon, on arrival, an ICC nurse, who is part of the reception party, conferred with the former President’s personal nurse on his medical condition and requirements. The ICC nurse has relayed the information received to the ICC Medical Doctor for the conduct of a medical check-up on the former President upon his arrival at the ICC Detention Center,” it added.
The embassy also provided consular assistance to Duterte’s aide and former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who accompanied him on the flight.
“The Netherlands’ Immigration Authorities granted those who escorted the former President, including his nurse and aide, two-day visas to allow them to rest and recover before their return flight,” the embassy said.
“Former Executive Secretary Medialdea was issued a 15-day visa as counsel for the former President and has been granted permission to visit him tomorrow, Thursday, at the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen, The Hague,” it added.
The ICC confirmed that preparations for Duterte’s trial are now underway.
The international court also expressed gratitude for the successful execution of Duterte’s arrest and encouraged those with relevant information to come forward through the Office’s Witness Appeal portal.