Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña, and daughter Veronica “Kitty” Duterte were finally able to visit him inside the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility, where he is being held while awaiting trial for charges of crimes against humanity of murder in relation to his administration’s so-called drug war.
(From left) Kitty Duterte and Honeylet Avanceña arrive in The Hague to visit former president Rodrigo Dutrete on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Photo from Lance Kurt Duterte Facebook page)
This was related by Vice President Sara Duterte, who has been in The Hague, Netherlands since her father’s arrest to help form his legal team.
Honeylet and Kitty, who arrived in The Hague on Wednesday, March 26, but was unable to see the former president then, entered the penitentiary at 1:45 p.m. (Hague Time).
The visit, which lasted for about three hours, coincided with the former chief executive’s 80th birthday.
The Duterte family, the Vice President earlier shared, has decided to let Honeylet and Kitty spend time with the former president on his birthday because they have limited time to stay in The Hague.
Kitty is Duterte’s daughter with Honeylet, while the Vice President and brothers Paolo and Sebastian were his children from his first marriage to Elizabeth Zimmerman.
After their visit, Honeylet and Kitty met with Duterte supporters who were waiting outside the detention facility.
Their supporters asked for a selfie particularly with Kitty, while Honeylet talked with some.
After taking some photos with their supporters, they then boarded a black van. Also seen inside the van was former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea.
Birthday picnic
Supporters of the former president from different parts of Europe held a birthday picnic in honor of Duterte and to show their support as he remains detained in The Hague.
(Photo from Pinoy in Holland)
This was advised by the Vice President, who said a birthday picnic would no longer need a permission from the Dutch authorities, unlike protests and rallies.
She, however, delivered a short speech on a makeshift stage to thank their supporters for being there for her father.
They also sang the “Happy Birthday” song for the president, while the younger Duterte shared a message from her father, who asked his supporters not to intervene and comment, particularly on social media, in the legal process of the ICC.
Senator Robin Padilla and former presidential spokesman Harry Roque were also at the gathering.
Asked about a birthday message for his former boss, Roque said he simply wanted to thank Duterte for serving the country.
“It’s really more of an expression of gratitude dahil talagang binigyan ng presidente ng pagasa ang Pilipinas na sa lahat ng pagsusubok natin ay meron pa rin na maninilbihan para sa bayan at hindi para magpasasa para sa kanilang mga sarili (because the [former] president gave the Philippines hope that in all of the challenges we are facing, someone will still serve the country well and not to enrich themselves).”
'Harassment'
Meanwhile, in an interview with reporters in The Hague, the Vice President called any possible asset freeze related to the ICC case against her father as a form of harassment.
Vice President Sara Duterte in The Hague (Photo from Inday Sara Duterte Facebook page)
"I don't have nothing to do with the ICC case. I don't expect there will be a freezing of my assets, but if there will be freezing of my assets in relation to the ICC case then that would show again harassment of my family in the Philippines," she said.
Reports said there has been no freeze assets order yet from the ICC and Malacañang said it has no obligation to comply with that order because the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC.
But the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), who will be tasked to study any request from the ICC to freeze the former president’s and his family’s assets, explained that any request would need to be evaluated with relevant government agencies.
Message of gratitude
The Vice President expressed her gratitude to Filipinos in the Philippines and around the world, particularly in the Netherlands, for showing her father how much they love him.
“Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng tao na nag-birthday na buong mundo ay mayroon siyang celebration sa kanyang birthday (This is the first time I’ve seen a person’s birthday being celebrated around the world),” she told supporters gathered outside the detention facility in The Hague.
“And it shows, it shows the goodness of his heart and the love for the people. Because otherwise, the people will not love you if they don't feel the love coming from you,” she added.
The official also thanked the organizers in The Hague for spending time and effort in applying for permits and fixing the barricades to ensure that the event-goers are going to be comfortable.
She asked for prayers that her father will be able to return home to Davao City, where she said he has a mayoralty term to serve, as well as to be able to face the challenges of cooking, washing his clothes, and cleaning his room.
Duterte is running as Davao City mayor in the upcoming polls this May.