Former president Rodrigo Duterte has grown noticeably gaunt during his more than 100 days in detention at The Hague, according to his former wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, who shared her observations in a video posted online.
“He’s so thin, skin and bones, unlike in the picture,” Zimmerman said during an interview posted on the Alvin and Tourism Facebook page. She noted that while Duterte is no longer on medication, he is clearly feeling the weight of old age. “He is healthy, but he is an old man. He walks slowly,” she added.
Zimmerman said Duterte spends most of his time watching television and sleeping. “He just wants to sleep, watch TV. After he watches TV, he then sleeps. That’s it,” she shared.
She has temporarily taken over care duties from their son, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, who returned to the Philippines. During their time together, the former president reportedly asked about the situation back home. “He is asking, ‘How is Davao? Is Baste OK?’” Zimmerman recounted, referring to Sebastian Duterte, who is currently serving as acting mayor of Davao City after the elder Duterte failed to take his oath. Zimmerman also informed him that their grandson Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II is vice mayor, and another grandson, Omar Vincent Duterte, is the city’s second district representative.
Duterte also inquired about the Hugpong ng Pagbabago political party led by Vice President Sara Duterte. “He also asked me, ‘Did the Hugpong win?’ I told him, yes, most of them are from Hugpong,” Zimmerman said.
She noted that Duterte expressed thanks to his supporters and encouraged her to return home, concerned about travel costs. “I told him I will be here for as long as we are needed here,” she replied.
Zimmerman also offered personal reflections during the video. “I believe in him also,” she said. She told the court that Duterte was “a good leader but there is something wrong, he has a flaw,” though she did not elaborate. Referring to their annulled marriage, she added, “For 25 years we got married, I think that’s what happened to us. I need rest also.”
Duterte remains in ICC custody, awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity linked to thousands of deaths under his war on drugs. He was arrested on March 11 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and transported to The Hague. His legal team is pushing for interim release and transfer to a third-party country, but the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor opposes the motion, citing risks to ongoing investigations.
