Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, facing murder charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his controversial war on drugs, will be detained at a facility near The Hague that has housed several high-profile war crimes suspects. Duterte will be placed in the Scheveningen detention unit, a historic prison built in 1882, where international tribunal defendants have been held during their legal proceedings.

Upon arrival, he will undergo a medical examination before being assigned a private cell equipped with basic amenities, including a bed, desk, bookshelves, sink, and toilet. He will join other detainees, such as Kosovo’s former president Hashim Thaçi, awaiting trial for war crimes, and Ratko Mladić, the convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal found guilty of genocide. The facility also houses militia leaders from Sudan, Mali, and the Central African Republic.

Life Inside the Detention Unit: Since this is a detention center rather than a traditional prison, detainees have more privileges than convicted inmates. They have access to conjugal visits, outdoor exercise areas, unmonitored communication with their legal teams, and spiritual guidance. In past cases, war crimes suspects detained at the facility have participated in sports matches and recreational activities. Detainees can also take part in yoga, music classes, crafts, and painting. A library, gym, and a communal kitchen are available, as most detainees reportedly prefer cooking their own meals over Dutch cuisine. Medical care is provided, and inmates can seek a second opinion from a doctor of their choice.

Duterte’s Upcoming Court Appearance: Duterte faces accusations of creating, funding, and arming "death squads" as part of his war on drugs, with prosecutors alleging crimes against humanity. ICC pre-trial judges have found reasonable grounds to move forward with the case based on existing evidence.

In the coming days, he will appear before a judge for the initial hearing, where the charges will be formally presented. He will be represented either by a court-appointed lawyer or a legal representative of his choosing but will not be required to enter a plea at this stage. Notable figures previously held at the facility include Slobodan Milošević, the late Serbian president who died during his genocide trial, Laurent Gbagbo, the former Ivory Coast president who was acquitted in 2019, and Charles Taylor, the former Liberian leader serving a 50-year sentence in the UK for war crimes.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.