MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has imposed stricter guidelines on the flow of information from visits to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s detention facility, a directive confirmed by Vice President Sara Duterte during her latest trip to The Hague.
Under the new policy, family members may no longer publicly share updates from inside the detention center, except to affirm that Duterte remains alive.
The development comes ahead of the September 23 pretrial confirmation of charges hearing, underscoring the ICC’s intent to regulate disclosure as proceedings move forward. The court said the communication restrictions form part of its broader procedural safeguards.
During her visit, Vice President Duterte reported little beyond the phrase “he is still alive,” reflecting the impact of the new curbs on familial updates. The policy has drawn attention to the ICC’s handling of high-profile detainees and the balance between transparency and confidentiality.
The measure follows earlier efforts, such as government-backed witness protection and opposition to interim release, which highlight the Philippines’ complex engagement with the ICC. While the Justice Department has supported protective custody for potential witnesses, the ICC prosecution has not opposed Duterte’s bid for interim release, though government officials have warned of possible risks.
