Honeylet Avanceña says she's banned from visiting Rodrigo Duterte at ICC
Honeylet Avanceña, the common-law wife of Rodrigo Duterte, said she has been suspended from visiting the former president during his detention at the ICC.
In an interview shared on pro-Duterte vlogger Maharlika’s Youtube channel Boldyak TV, Avanceña said her suspension had something to do with her phone call with Duterte last July 19, during which she was expected to comment on the case. She, however, claimed having no knowledge on the matter.
She recalled being informed of the suspension during her last visit.
"Five minutes bago matapos, sinabihan na lang ako na isusupend daw ako," she said. "Ang sabi pa nga ni PRD doon sa lalaki noon, ‘You cannot do that.' Ginanyan niya. Kasi nga, he’s expecting me."
"Tapos the following day, wala na akong visit,” she added.
She called out Duterte's lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, telling him not to "deprive" them of "asking other people or asking legal opinions from other lawyers also."
"You know, I know you are protecting your real practice. I don’t know if you’re trying to prove something [but] we are concerned about the life of this man,” she added.
Kaufman also confirmed the news in an interview posted on vlogger Alvin & Tourism’s Facebook page, but refused to comment on her pronouncements.
"For judicial reasons and out of respect for family privacy, I am not going to comment on the veracity of Honeylet Avanceña’s allegations concerning her presence not being desired at the ICC detention center," he said.
Kaufman noted that Avanceña is "emotionally distressed" for reasons he "cannot elaborate."
"As a consequence, she is making all sorts of wild allegations which are being stoked by others,” he added.
Kaufman pointed out that visiting rights were decided by detention center authorities and not the legal counsel, and that ICC judges will intervene when necessary.
“The former president’s health is being adequately managed and overseen by all those currently in daily contact with him,” he said.
As regards criticisms of his lawyering for Duterte, Kaufman said Vice President Sara Duterte, as a lawyer herself, is "fully qualified" to judge his work.
Duterte has been at the ICC since March 12.
He was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11 following a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC via the International Criminal Police Organization.
He has been accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder pursuant to Article 7 (1)(a) of the Roman Statute."
Specifically, he was allegedly involved in the murder of at least 19 persons reported to be drug pushers or thieves who were killed by members of the Davao Death Squad in various locations in or around Davao City between 2011 and 2016, as well as the murder of at least 24 alleged criminals who were killed by or under the supervision of members of the Philippines law enforcement at various locations in the country between 2016 and 2019 during his term as president.
He could be the first Asian former head of state to be indicted by the ICC.
His pre-trial hearing is on Sept. 23, 2025. If the charges against him are confirmed, it could be months before the case eventually goes on trial, and years before a final judgment is rendered.