ICC Assistant to Counsel Atty. Kristina Conti drew sharp criticism online after posting what many saw as a sarcastic “health tip” in relation to former president Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte’s alleged untreated ingrown toenail inside the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility.
The backlash came after Vice President Sara Duterte claimed her father’s medical needs were not being promptly addressed, citing even minor issues like an ingrown toenail.
In a post on her X account, Conti stressed that only the ICC’s medical providers can release information on detainees’ health, citing the Netherlands’ policy on medical confidentiality. She then added: “PS. Speaking of nails. If you have ingrown toenails, Google says soak feet in warm water, with soap or apple cider vinegar.”
Netizens, however, did not take the remark lightly. Some argued that the issue was far from trivial, especially since Duterte is diabetic. They warned that untreated ingrown toenails in diabetics can lead to severe infections, amputations, or even death.
One commenter shared a personal account: “Kapag diabetic ka ang ingrown ay isang bagay na delikado dahil kapag nasugatan pwedeng hindi gumaling at iyon na ang maging sanhi ng kamatayan mo.” Others mocked the lawyer’s reliance on Google for medical advice, with one writing, “Naku patay tayo dyan abogada na dependent on Google.”
Several users also reminded that in other countries, ingrown toenails for elderly or diabetic patients are treated by specialists like chiropodists, underscoring that the matter should not be dismissed as simple or self-manageable.
