Christmas in The Hague this year carries a chill far deeper than the Dutch winter for former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. On December 25, 2025, Duterte spent his first Christmas in detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC), barred from family visits by strict holiday regulations. According to GMA Integrated News, his youngest daughter, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, personally broke the news to him: no family would be allowed inside the ICC facility on either Christmas or New Year’s Day. The disappointment was palpable, but Kitty explained that her father tried to accept the situation with resilience. “He was not in the best emotional state, but he remained strong and composed,” she shared after her last visit, which ended with a prayer.
Outside the walls of the ICC’s Scheveningen Detention Unit, family and supporters—both Filipino and foreign—planned to remain close during the holidays, hoping their presence would provide some comfort. Kitty noted that detainees customarily hold informal, voluntary holiday gatherings among themselves, though it’s up to each person whether they join in. For Duterte, this Christmas marks not just a personal milestone, but also a stark reminder of the legal battles and international scrutiny that have defined his post-presidency years.
Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity for his controversial war on drugs, which, as reported by GMA Integrated News, resulted in thousands of deaths during his time as president. The ICC’s judicial recess—running from December 12, 2025, to January 5, 2026—means that court proceedings are on hold, and visitation schedules are even more limited. December 25 and 26 are official ICC holidays, further tightening restrictions for detainees and their families.
The sense of isolation this season isn’t unique to Duterte. The ICC, based in The Hague, is designed to uphold strict security and procedural standards, even during times of celebration. As Rappler observed in a reflective piece, this could be the first of many Christmases Duterte spends in the Netherlands, with little chance of returning to the Philippines. The opinion article points out that all legal maneuvers by Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman—including attempts at interim release and challenges to the court’s jurisdiction—have been unsuccessful. “Every trick in the lawyer’s book... had crashed and burned,” Rappler noted, emphasizing the ICC’s resolve to proceed with the case.
Adding to the swirl of international intrigue are recent US sanctions against certain ICC judges and prosecutors. Some Duterte supporters have tried to link these sanctions to his case, suggesting they might benefit the former president. However, Rappler fact-checked these claims and clarified that the US measures are unrelated to Duterte. Instead, they were imposed in response to the ICC’s actions concerning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and past investigations into alleged US war crimes in Afghanistan. The sanctioned judges—Solomy Balungi Bossa, Luz del Carmen Ibañez Carranza, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou, and Beti Hohler—were targeted for their roles in these cases, not for involvement in Duterte’s proceedings.
Despite the sanctions, the ICC’s financial stability remains largely unaffected. As Rappler detailed, the court’s primary contributors are countries like Japan, Germany, France, the UK, and others. The United States, not a member of the ICC, has never been a key source of funding. The court has already paid its 2025 salaries in advance and is considering alternative banking solutions to work around any restrictions. “There is no dearth of that in the EU,” Rappler remarked, noting that the ICC will continue to function and adapt as needed.
The broader political context in the Philippines is equally tense. On the same day that Duterte marked his somber Christmas, his daughter—Vice President Sara Duterte—found herself at the center of swirling controversies. According to GMA Integrated News, she declined to confirm or deny reports that she visited former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. at Camp Bagong Diwa jail in Taguig City. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla had claimed she visited Teves, who is accused of masterminding the killing of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. When pressed, Sara Duterte responded, “What I’m saying is that I’m not confirming nor denying anything,” and emphasized she does not know Ramil Madriaga, a man who alleged that her campaign was being funded by drug dealers and offshore gaming operators.
Madriaga, currently detained on a kidnapping for ransom charge, claimed in his affidavit to have handled large cash deliveries and confidential funds linked to Duterte’s campaign. The Vice President dismissed his statements as “bare allegations” and accused him of acting out of desperation to secure his release. “He is now disseminating false statements to government authorities as part of a concerted effort to obstruct and undermine my possible candidacy for President,” she alleged.
Meanwhile, Sara Duterte addressed the reported ICC arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a key figure in her father’s war on drugs. She revealed that she had not spoken with the senator since news of the warrant broke. Dela Rosa’s lawyer, Atty. Israelito Torreon, stated the senator was avoiding public appearances for safety reasons, and he has not attended Senate sessions since November 11.
Tragedy struck the Philippine bureaucracy as well, with the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. Cabral, linked to alleged anomalous flood control projects, was found unconscious and unresponsive 20 to 30 meters below a highway in Benguet on December 18, and pronounced dead shortly after midnight on December 19. Sara Duterte commented that such incidents could have a chilling effect on the mental wellness of government officials, especially those involved in questionable activities. She declined to speculate on the possibility of foul play.
Amid these controversies, impeachment rumors continue to swirl around Vice President Duterte. She expressed frustration over the repeated threats, stating, “People are getting tired of the impeachment because we can see that there is no evidence for the complaints. That’s totally for threats and harassment only.” The activist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) is reportedly preparing a new impeachment complaint, expected after February 5, 2026, when the constitutionally mandated one-year ban on such actions expires.
On the legislative front, Duterte stressed the importance of signing the proposed P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026 before December 31 to avoid a reenacted budget scenario. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto confirmed that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos will sign the 2026 General Appropriations Act in the first week of January, ensuring continuity of government funding.
As 2025 draws to a close, the Duterte family faces a holiday season marked by separation, legal battles, and political storms. Inside the ICC, Rodrigo Duterte’s future remains uncertain, while outside, his daughter navigates the treacherous waters of Philippine politics. For both, the coming year promises no shortage of challenges—or headlines.
