ICC Visitation Rules Bar Family Visits for Duterte over Holidays

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is expected to spend both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day without family visits as a result of holiday visitation restrictions imposed by the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he remains under detention in The Hague, Netherlands.

According to his daughter, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, the ICC’s visitation rules during the holiday period prevent family members from seeing detainees on major holidays, including Christmas and New Year.

She said she had already informed her father that visits would not be allowed on those days.

Kitty noted that while family visits are restricted, detainees at the ICC detention facility usually observe the holidays by holding informal gatherings among themselves. However, she did not specify whether her father would participate in such activities.

Despite the lack of personal visits, she said both Filipino and foreign supporters of the former president plan to remain nearby during the holiday season as a show of solidarity.

The ICC is currently observing a judicial recess that runs from December 12 until January 5. In addition to the recess, the court officially recognizes December 25 and December 26 as holidays, further limiting visitation schedules throughout the Christmas period.

These restrictions, combined with existing detention protocols, mean that in-person visits from family members are not permitted on those dates.

Kitty said her most recent visit with her father concluded with a prayer. She described the former president as emotionally affected by his situation but still composed and resilient.

She added that while he was not in the best emotional state, he remained strong despite the circumstances of his detention.

Vice President Sara Duterte also spoke about her father’s condition during a chance interview with reporters in Davao City on Thursday.

She confirmed that Veronica had been able to accompany their father on December 24, the day before Christmas, for what would be the last visit before the holiday restrictions took effect.

The vice president said that following the visit, Veronica was able to make a video call with her half-sister, allowing members of the family to connect despite being physically apart.

Sara Duterte said she later shared the video call with supporters during a gift-giving activity she attended in Davao City, explaining that the clip was shown to relay her father’s holiday message.

“The Vice President said that during the gift-giving event she attended in Davao City, she showed their supporters Veronica’s video call with her ‘to convey the message of former President Rodrigo Duterte to all this Christmas.’”

The vice president previously traveled to The Hague in late November to personally visit her father. During that visit, she said they discussed various matters, including the current political situation in the Philippines.

She recalled that she was grateful for the opportunity to spend time with her father during that visit, noting that most of their communication since then has been conducted through telephone calls due to visitation limitations.

The former president’s detention at the ICC has drawn continued attention from supporters in the Philippines and abroad, particularly during the holiday season.

Family members have acknowledged the emotional strain of spending Christmas and the New Year apart but said they remain focused on maintaining communication within the limits set by the court.

While no family visits are expected on New Year’s Day, supporters have indicated that they will continue to express solidarity with the former leader during the holidays.

The ICC has not issued any special exemptions to its visitation rules for the holiday period, and the restrictions are expected to remain in place until regular court operations resume after January 5.