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Duterte 'well taken care of' in flight to The Hague, seemed travelling via first class plane: Remulla

Zyann Ambrosio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174178821545120250311-duterte-arrest-private-plane-CP-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former President Rodrigo Duterte boards plane going to an undisclosed location, a few hours after a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court was served by INTERPOL Manila on March 11, 2025.    Contributed Photo"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former President Rodrigo Duterte boards plane going to an undisclosed location, a few hours after a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court was served by INTERPOL Manila on March 11, 2025. <em>Contributed Photo</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- During the height of the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday, the former president’s child Veronica Duterte claimed on social media that her father was allegedly not given enough medical attention by the police or authorities. </p><p>Veronica claimed that only a sandwich was given to her father during the eight-hour trip to Dubai. </p><p>However, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla explained that the family supposedly did not communicate properly with them. Before Duterte boarded the plane to The Hague, the family was also asked about the medications to bring for the former president.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/11/what-we-know-about-ex-president-rodrigo-dutertes-arrest-1718">What we know about ex- president Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s arrest</a> </div><p>“To tell the truth tinanong namin si Ms. Honey [Honeylet Avanceña], anong food prefer niya, ayaw magsalita. Tinanong [kung may] allergies, ayaw magsalita. Tinanong ano gusto kanin, ayaw magsalita. Only option is sandwich na lang, para safe sa lahat,&quot; Remulla said. </p><p>&quot;Tinanong siya ano maintenance meds, ano sakit niya, kelan last check up, ayaw magbigay. So nagdala na lang ng possible na gamot na posibleng kailanganin,” he added. </p><p>Remulla also noted that contrary to criticisms that the former president received &quot;improper treatment,&quot; it appeared as though he was flying in first class.</p><p>&quot;Yan &#x27;yung lay flat couch siya, first class na Emirates ang pakiramdam niya. May sariling banyo, may 3 doctor na naka-paligid, constantly kinukuha BP nya. I think he feels like any billionaire in the country would feel,&quot; he said. </p><p>According to Remulla, they are ensuring his health and food are well taken care of.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/12/-kidnapped-lawmaker-says-duterte-arrest-was-livestreamed-done-legally-2024">&#x27;Kidnapped&#x27;? Lawmaker says Duterte arrest was livestreamed, done legally</a> </div><p>“Upon arriving in Dubai, he requested Filipino food,” he explained. </p><p>Remulla also said that they did not receive any complaints from Duterte during the trip. </p><p>“He was nice. He said everything felt normal,” Remulla adds. </p><p>Remulla also denied that the government had planned Duterte’s capture. </p><p>&quot;Katunayan, nagka-delay-delay sila sa Dubai dahil walang koordinasyon. Hindi makakababa &#x27;yung mga police sa airplane lang kasi walang VISA kasi nga biglaan so they were allowed to board but not allowed to disembark,&quot; he said.</p><p>He said the process of having a chartered flight actually needed more time.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/12/eroplanong-sinasakyan-ni-duterte-nag-stop-over-sa-dubai-2011">Dating Pang. Duterte pinatulog sa isang kama, hinainan ng pagkain habang nasa biyahe papuntang Netherlands</a></div><p>&quot;When you fly private aircraft, kailangan mo kumuha ng [over land rights], magpapaalam ka sa Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Oman, UAE... Isa-isa mong kukunin &#x27;yan, dapat d&#x27;yan tatlong araw e, ito 7 hours,&quot; he added.</p><p>According to Remulla, Duterte will be accompanied in The Hague by former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/62yntf5HY8I?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>“"Yan yung lay flat couch siya 1st class na Emirates. Ang pakiramdam niya may sariling banyo, may 3 doctor na naka-paligid constantly kinukuha BP nya. I think he feels like any billionaire in the country would feel," says Remulla.</p>

“"Yan yung lay flat couch siya 1st class na Emirates. Ang pakiramdam niya may sariling banyo, may 3 doctor na naka-paligid constantly kinukuha BP nya. I think he feels like any billionaire in the country would feel," says Remulla.

Duterte 'well taken care of' in flight to The Hague: Remulla

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Duterte 'well taken care of' in flight to The Hague: Remulla

Zyann Ambrosio,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 13, 2025 12:16 AM PHT

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Updated March 13, 2025 12:31 AM PHT

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