Former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV resurfaced on social media with a throwback photo taken outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility in Scheveningen, The Hague, where ex-president Rodrigo Duterte is being held.
“Relax lang po. Nasa loob pa si Duts. Naghahanapbuhay lang ang abogado nya,” Trillanes wrote in his post, downplaying speculation about Duterte’s current condition and insisting that the former president remains in custody.
The post followed days of controversy after Vice President Sara Duterte claimed her father was found unconscious in his detention cell, a charge that led to strong criticism of the ICC. Duterte’s lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman also disclosed that the former leader previously collapsed and was hospitalized for possible cranial and brain injuries, though this was not relayed in real time to his family or defense team.
The ICC, however, refused to confirm or deny the incident, citing privacy rules for detainees. “Respecting the right to privacy, we do not comment on matters related to [the] private situation of a detained person,” ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah said, adding that the Court ensures the physical and psychological wellbeing of those under its custody.
Human rights lawyer Kristina Conti likewise reminded the public that Dutch law imposes strict medical confidentiality, warning Duterte’s allies that “fake news and disinformation can backfire on your cause.”
Trillanes, a known critic of Duterte and one of those who helped file complaints before the ICC, has consistently maintained his stance against the former leader.
