Former president Rodrigo Duterte is now under continuous 24/7 monitoring at the detention facility of the International Criminal Court following concerns over his health and safety.
According to Trial Chamber III, the ICC Registry confirmed that Duterte has been placed under cell monitoring in accordance with Regulation 196(3) of the Rules of the Registry (RoR).
The decision came after medical evaluations reportedly identified a heightened risk of falls due to his age and existing chronic health conditions.
“The ICC Detention Centre Medical Officer provided advice based on Mr. Duterte being an elderly detained person, with increased fall risk due to age and several chronic physical ailments,” the Registry stated.
The ICC explained that the monitoring setup enables detention personnel to observe Duterte continuously and immediately respond to any medical emergencies or personal assistance he may require while in custody.
The Registry did not disclose specific details regarding Duterte’s medical conditions, citing confidentiality rules governing detainees’ health records. It noted, however, that his legal counsel has full access to the medical information.
The heightened monitoring reportedly followed incidents in which the former president allegedly experienced falls inside the detention facility, raising concerns among detention and medical staff.
Under ICC regulations, detainees may be placed under close observation when authorities determine that additional supervision is necessary for health, safety, or welfare purposes.
