ICC: Du30 losing balance, having a fall still ‘rare’
An administrative arm of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has disputed claims made by the defense team of former President Rodrigo Duterte that he had been suffering “frequent” falls due to loss of balance.
According to the ICC Registry, such incidents were “rare” though consistent with the age and mobility of Duterte, who turned 81 in detention on March 28.
In a redacted document released on May 20, the Registry said Duterte had been under cell monitoring for health and safety reasons.
This was in response to a May 8 submission filed by the defense team, which requested the ICC to comment on Duterte’s condition, citing the “frequent” falls he had suffered while in custody.
According to the registry, the custody staff of the ICC Detention Center had kept watch on Duterte ‘round the clock, responding “to any need he may have” if there was any incident.
Cell ‘adjustments’
“On rare occasions where Mr. Duterte did have a fall, ICC DC custody staff were able to respond immediately to assist him, and immediately call for medical assessment,” the registry said.
“Following these rare events, adjustments have been made to his cell, to better accommodate his comfort and movement and are adjusted as needed,” it said.
“Ergonomic adjustments” have been made in his cell to allow him more free and stable movement, it added.
As to the times when Duterte lost his balance, the registry quoted the assessment of the detention center’s medical officer that such incidents “are consistent with his age and mobility.”
It also stressed that “no fall has been recorded in the last thirty days.”
The ex-president’s medical records are always available to his defense team and his continual medical care “remains assured and under constant attention,” the ICC unit added.
Renewed bid for release
The state of Duterte’s health continues to be one of the main arguments of his legal team in seeking his interim release from detention at the ICC, where he faces trial for crimes against humanity over the thousands killed in his so-called war on drugs.
The May 8 submission was one of the last filings made by lawyer Nicholas Kaufman before withdrawing as Duterte’s lead defense counsel.
Kaufman then spoke of his client’s “increased fall risk due to age and severe chronic physical ailments” as new factors that the ICC should consider.
The court’s Pre-Trial Chamber I rejected Duterte’s earlier request for interim release in September last year.
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