Palace: No health alarms for Duterte
Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang on Tuesday downplayed concerns over the health of former President Rodrigo Duterte following remarks from his ex-wife Elizabeth Zimmerman that he has turned into "skin and bones" after four months in detention at The Hague.
In a post shared by former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Zimmerman said Duterte had significantly lost weight but remains in good spirits.
"He is okay, but he is so thin. Skin and bones," Zimmerman wrote after visiting the former president at the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention center, where he is being held in connection with charges of crimes against humanity over his administration’s bloody war on drugs.
In a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the condition of the 80-year-old Duterte should not be a cause for concern, especially as his family has stated that he is doing fine.
“As we saw in Mrs. Elizabeth Zimmerman’s statement, she said he lost weight, yes, but he looks healthy according to her, and he’s okay,” Castro said.
“The former president even told her, ‘You go home. I’m fine. I’m okay.’ She also mentioned that he is no longer taking maintenance medications, which she considers a good sign.”
Castro added that Vice President Sara Duterte, the former president’s daughter, also reported earlier that her father was in stable condition. She noted that Duterte is being monitored properly in The Hague.
When asked whether the former president’s frail appearance should raise alarms amid ongoing international legal proceedings, Castro responded: “Sa ngayon po, dahil mismo pamilya niya nagsabi na okay po ang Pangulo, ang kailangan na lang po siguro niya ay exercise,” said Castro.
[Translation: At this point, since it’s his family saying that he is okay, what he probably needs now is just a bit of exercise]
Duterte was arrested on March 11 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after arriving from a political rally in Hong Kong. The ICC is set to conduct a confirmation of charges hearing against him on September 23, 2025.
