Where Duterte awaits trial: A look at the ICC detention center

MANILA, Philippines – Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, now in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) following his arrest for alleged crimes against humanity, will be held in a facility designed to provide “safe, secure, and humane” conditions for detainees facing charges before the court.

Located within a Dutch prison complex in Scheveningen, The Hague, Netherlands, the ICC detention center is overseen by ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler of Ecuador.

Zavala Giler, elected on April 17, 2023, is responsible for ensuring the security, order, and overall well-being of detainees.

Duterte will remain at the ICC detention center before his initial court appearance, which is likely to be scheduled in the coming days.

But what will life be like for Duterte inside the ICC detention center?

A holding center, not a traditional prison

According to the ICC, its detention center is not a traditional prison but more of a secure holding facility for individuals awaiting trial or other legal proceedings.

A standard detention center cell is equipped with a single bed, a table, a chair, and storage cabinets for the detainee’s use.

The facility also features a communal area, a gym, and a medical unit to cater to detainees' needs.

“Following the mandate of the ICC as an e-Court, each detained person has a computer in his or her cell, which is linked to one specific computer at the Court; only his defense has access to that computer,” the ICC stated in its primer.

The ICC further explained that detainees follow a “daily program” that includes access to fresh air, recreational activities, and sports.

EXPLAINER: What’s next after arrest of Rodrigo Duterte?

Detainees also have access to books, news updates, television, and computer facilities to help them prepare their legal defense, it added.

Meals are also provided by the ICC facility in accordance with nutritional and hygiene standards, and detainees are also allowed to cook using items available from the detention center’s shopping list.

Privacy, communication, and family visits

Communication rights are also strictly upheld in the ICC detention center.

The ICC ensures that detainees can speak privately with their legal counsel, consular representatives, and spiritual advisors without monitoring from detention staff. A designated area is also available for religious or spiritual visits.

To maintain family ties, the ICC also allows detainees to receive visits from family members, including their spouse or partner.

“The Registrar gives specific attention to visits by the family and visits by the wife or partner of the detained persons; and may take measures to assist the family in the necessary procedures thereof, if required,” the ICC said.

Monitoring and inspections

The International Committee of the Red Cross conducts unannounced inspections to assess detainees’ treatment, living conditions, and physical and psychological well-being, according to the ICC.

It further stressed that under international legal standards, detainees are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Hence, if convicted, Duterte will not serve his sentence at the ICC detention center but will be transferred to a prison outside the Netherlands under agreements between the ICC and the host country.

READ: Rodrigo Duterte arrives in The Hague

Duterte arrived in The Hague on Wednesday evening, aboard a chartered plane that landed at Rotterdam The Hague Airport at around 11:55 p.m. after a refueling stop in Dubai.

The aircraft departed Villamor Air Base in Pasay City around 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

The ICC, based in The Hague, investigates individuals accused of the most serious crimes, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

Duterte, 79, is the first  Asian former head of state to face charges before the ICC.

(2025/03/14-07:00)