RODRIGO DUTERTE IN ICC CUSTODY

Former president Rodrigo Duterte, currently detained in The Hague, has become “so thin, skin and bones,” according to his former wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman. Zimmerman shared her observations in a video posted on Facebook, providing a rare glimpse into the former president’s condition more than 100 days into his detention.

Zimmerman, who is in The Hague to take over watch from Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, noted that the former president’s physical appearance has changed significantly. “I asked him about the food, and he said it was still the same. At least he said, he is no longer taking any meds. At least that’s okay. He is healthy but he is an old man. He walks slowly,” Zimmerman stated in the video.

She described Duterte’s daily routine as largely consisting of watching television and sleeping. “He just wants to sleep, watch TV. After he watches TV, he then sleeps. That’s it,” Zimmerman recounted.

During their latest encounter, Duterte inquired about the situation back home in Davao City. “He is asking, ‘how is Davao? Is Baste (Sebastian Duterte) okay, because he is the acting mayor (of Davao City)?’ I told him, he is okay. There is no problem but your grandson is also the vice mayor. I said, and the other one is the congressman, second district,” Zimmerman said, referring to their grandsons, Davao City acting Vice Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II and Davao City second district Rep. Omar Vincent Duterte.

She also mentioned that Duterte asked about the Hugpong ng Pagbabago political party, to which she replied that most of their candidates had won.

Zimmerman conveyed Duterte’s message of gratitude to his supporters and mentioned that he advised her to return home due to expensive fares. However, she affirmed her commitment, stating, “I told him I will be here for as long as we are needed here.”

In her remarks, Zimmerman also thanked supporters and expressed her continued belief in the former president. She recalled telling a court that he was a good leader, adding, “That’s what I told the judge. He is a good leader but there is something wrong, he has a flaw,” without elaborating on the flaw. She also briefly touched upon their annulled marriage, stating, “For 25 years we got married, I think that’s what happened to us. I need rest also. I was sickly and already had my operation.”

Duterte is currently awaiting trial for crimes against humanity related to the thousands of deaths during his “drug war.” He was arrested on March 11 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport and subsequently flown to The Hague. His legal team is actively seeking his interim release from detention and transfer to a third country that is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), a request that the tribunal’s Office of the Prosecutor is contesting, citing risks to ongoing investigations and court proceedings.