The Hague: flowers and a Former President

Rodrigo Duterte,the former president of the Philippines,celebrated his 80th birthday on March 28 as an inmate at the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) detention center in The Hague. The occasion was marked by an unusual influx of support: a vanload of flowers and numerous birthday cards arrived at the facility. He faces accusations of crimes against humanity related to his brutal anti-drug campaign,which resulted in tens of thousands of deaths during his presidency.

Nicholas Kaufman, Duterte’s lawyer, described the scene: The place was inundated with flowers, and I brought some of the mail out because they didn’t know what to do with it. Kaufman added that he left with three sacks of mail for Duterte that the court was unable to vet. Simultaneously, thousands of Duterte’s supporters, clad in the green associated with his political party, rallied in the streets of Davao City.

Political Fallout in the Philippines

despite the gravity of the charges against him,Duterte remains a popular figure in the Philippines. As Filipinos prepared to vote in midterm elections, Duterte was expected to secure another term as mayor of Davao City, his eighth, by a notable margin.He remains eligible for office, for now.

Duterte’s arrest and extradition to The Hague has created deep divisions within the Philippines. While some polls indicate that a majority of Filipinos support the international examination, many of his followers believe he is a victim of political persecution orchestrated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a former ally of the Duterte family.

The political landscape shifted dramatically following Duterte’s arrest. President Marcos’ approval rating reportedly plummeted from 42% to 25% in a Pulse Asia survey. Conversely,Vice President Sara Duterte,Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter,saw her approval rating rise from 52% to 59%.

Sara Duterte’s Future and Family Dynasty

Sara Duterte has long been considered a potential presidential candidate. However, her political future hangs in the balance. She faces impeachment charges, including allegations of corruption, plotting to assassinate Marcos, involvement in the drug war killings, and incitement to insurrection. The country’s 24 senators will decide her fate this summer.

In Davao, the Duterte dynasty continues to thrive. Rodrigo Duterte’s son, Sebastian, is likely to win the vice mayoral race and is expected to serve as mayor if his father wins. At least seven members of the Duterte family coudl potentially hold positions in the local government.

For the first time, three political families—the nograleses, the Garcias, and the Al-ags—have united to challenge the Dutertes in Davao. Even Bernie Al-ag, who is now running against Sebastian Duterte, expressed his disapproval of Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest. I also look at him as a father figure, said Al-ag, a former vice mayor of Davao. I continue to pray for him.

Mags Maglana, a nongovernmental organization worker running for a congressional seat against Paolo Duterte, another of Rodrigo Duterte’s sons, noted that before Duterte’s arrest, people in Davao could differentiate between the patriarch and his associates. She now fears that the outpouring of sympathy for the father would cascade over to the rest of the family.

Campaign Tool and “Kidnapping” Claims

Rodrigo Duterte’s camp has strategically used his case in the Hague as a campaign tool. At a rally in Manila, a video of his arrest was played, and supporters wore T-shirts and carried posters with the message: BRING HIM HOME. Sara Duterte told attendees that the country was paying the price for electing the wrong leader.

What’s even more painful is that they managed to kidnap the former president and hurriedly threw him into another country to be tried by foreigners.

Sara Duterte

Life in Detention: Food and Routine

Life in the Netherlands is a stark contrast to what Rodrigo Duterte is accustomed to. One immediate issue was the food. While the exact meals served in the detention facility remain undisclosed, Liberia’s former president, Charles Taylor, once complained that the food was too Eurocentric.

Fadi el Abdallah, an ICC spokesperson, stated that the court does not comment on matters related to the private life of detainees.

According to Kaufman, Rodrigo Duterte said he was not used to the meals, prompting the lawyer to request culturally appropriate food. Sara Duterte confirmed that her father is now receiving rice, cooked correct according to Filipino taste.

The family has been allowed to supply Duterte with groceries, including his preferred Coke Zero. Sara Duterte mentioned that he had complained about receiving only one can of Coke Zero per day and requested at least two.

Duterte’s daily routine is regimented. He meets with Kaufman each morning in a conference room and with family members in the afternoon. He has access to a gym equipped for basketball, tennis, and badminton, and also a communal space with a foosball table.He is one of six individuals currently in custody, according to court records.

Sara Duterte reported that her father, who is diabetic, is monitored by nurses. He has access to library books and a computer for reviewing his defense filings, though it is not connected to the internet. he is permitted to make telephone calls to pre-approved numbers and has a television to watch the news.

Jokingly, some people refer to it as a five star hilton, Kaufman said. But it’s still prison.

Legal Challenges and Public Support

The detention facility is located within a Dutch prison in The Hague. Laurent Gbagbo,the former president of Ivory Coast,was previously held there and was the first former head of state to stand trial at the court. He was later acquitted, along with another Ivorian political leader, Charles Blé Goudé, who was represented by Kaufman.

In a recent filing, Kaufman argued that the ICC lacks legal jurisdiction over Duterte’s case because the Philippines had withdrawn from the Rome Statute before the investigation into the drug war began in September 2021. His lawyers have called for Duterte’s immediate and unconditional release.

A hearing for the confirmation of charges is scheduled for Sept. 23.

In Davao, dozens of volunteers have maintained a vigil outside Duterte’s house since his arrest. Janice Mahipus, 45, an online seller, said she has been sleeping outside the house, initially on cartons and later on a bed. we will never get tired waiting for him, she said.