The International Criminal Court (ICC) has tightened restrictions on public communication by visitors to former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, who remains detained in The Hague, Netherlands. As the confirmation of charges hearing looms on September 23, 2025, the Duterte family finds itself under new scrutiny and limitations, while international politics swirl around the high-profile case.
On August 27, 2025, all four children of the former president—Vice President Sara Duterte, Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte, Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, and Veronica "Kitty" Duterte—visited their father at the ICC detention facility. The visit was at the express request of Rodrigo Duterte himself, who wanted to see his children together as he faces a pivotal moment in his legal battle. According to Manila Bulletin, the siblings spoke to supporters and the media outside the facility, but their ability to share details was about to change dramatically.
Just days later, on September 1, Vice President Sara Duterte revealed that the ICC detention unit had issued strict reminders to the family. "So, from now on, I cannot share what’s happening inside and what we’re talking about inside," she told former presidential spokesman Harry Roque in an interview, as reported by Manila Bulletin. "I can only say that former President Duterte is still alive. That’s it." The Vice President emphasized, "We are not allowed to give updates," a sentiment echoed in multiple reports, including ABS-CBN News and Philnews.ph.
This new policy, which bars visitors from disclosing any information about their visits or conversations with Duterte, underscores the ICC’s determination to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of its detention facility. The younger Duterte explained, "We were reminded by the detention unit to heed the conditions of the visit." While the family can confirm that Duterte is alive and well, all other details are strictly off-limits.
Rodrigo Duterte has been in ICC custody for over five months, following his arrest at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on March 11, 2025. The charges against him are grave: crimes against humanity, specifically murder, stemming from the thousands of deaths attributed to his controversial war on drugs. As Rappler notes, Duterte is being held at the Scheveningen detention facility, and his upcoming confirmation of charges hearing is set for September 23. This will be the first time since March that the public will see the former president, whose case has drawn intense attention both at home and abroad.
The ICC’s restrictions on family communication come amid a flurry of legal maneuvering by Duterte’s defense team. On June 12, 2025, his lawyers filed a request for his interim release on humanitarian grounds. Prosecutors, however, strongly opposed the motion, arguing that Duterte’s refusal to recognize the ICC’s authority, his past threats against court officials, and his enduring political influence made him a serious flight risk. As the Rappler report details, the defense renewed their request on August 18, citing a heavily redacted “final report” they claim demonstrates Duterte poses no risk of fleeing, obstructing witnesses, or repeating alleged crimes. They even argued that the report should prevent the confirmation of charges hearing from proceeding. Nonetheless, as things stand, the hearing remains firmly scheduled.
Meanwhile, misinformation continues to swirl around the case. A claim that U.S. President Donald Trump intervened to secure Duterte’s release from ICC custody recently went viral, garnering thousands of views on YouTube. The video’s thumbnail dramatically declared, “Oh no, Trump is angry. He’s going to take Duterte from the ICC.” Yet, as Rappler firmly debunked, there are “no credible reports or official statements from either the White House or the ICC confirming that Trump is intervening in Duterte’s case.” The ICC is an independent international tribunal, and the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the court. Trump, in fact, has no authority over ICC proceedings.
Far from intervening on Duterte’s behalf, the Trump administration has taken a confrontational stance toward the court. In February 2025, Trump issued an executive order imposing sanctions on the ICC and its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan—a move condemned by United Nations experts as an “attack on the global rule of law.” On August 20, the Trump administration escalated matters by sanctioning four ICC officials, freezing their U.S. assets and barring them from any financial activity in the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled the ICC a “national security threat,” while both the ICC and UN decried the sanctions as a “flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution.”
Back in the Philippines, the Duterte family is navigating personal and political challenges. Vice President Sara Duterte, who has been in The Hague since last month for family visits, is scheduled to travel to Japan—specifically Tokyo and Nagoya—before the September 23 hearing. While the country faces its own domestic issues, including alleged anomalous flood control projects, Sara Duterte has made it clear she will not be offering unsolicited advice on those matters at this time.
Despite the ICC’s clampdown on public updates, Vice President Sara Duterte has continued to stress the importance of family solidarity. When asked about future visits, she explained, “But likely, there will be relatives coming. That’s for sure, because it’s really necessary—like I told them, it’s really necessary that someone visits him whenever the detention unit allows.” The family, she said, will do whatever makes their father happy, within the boundaries set by the court.
The confirmation of charges hearing on September 23 is expected to be a watershed moment. It will determine whether the case moves forward to a full trial, with Duterte potentially facing international justice for the first time. The outcome is being watched closely not just in the Philippines, but around the world, as it will test the reach and resolve of the ICC in holding powerful leaders accountable.
For now, the Duterte family, their political allies, and their critics must all wait. With communication strictly controlled and legal arguments intensifying, the next chapter in this international legal saga is about to unfold before a global audience.
