Rodrigo Duterte's ex-wife says he's 'skin and bones' but 'healthy' amid ICC detainment

Former president Rodrigo Duterte's ex-wife Elizabeth Zimmerman shared that he's already "skin and bones" amid his detainment at the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.

In an interview with Duterte's supporters in The Hague on July 4, Zimmerman said she's happy to have seen him.

"He's okay, but he's so thin. Skin and bones. 'Di tulad sa picture na ito," she said, pointing to a Duterte standee behind her.

"He's really that, you know," she added, doing a compressing gesture of her cheeks.

Zimmerman shared that she asked Duterte about the food being served to him while in detention. "Ayaw daw niya ng food. Pabalik-balik daw," she said, adding that no Filipino food is being cooked for Duterte.

Nevertheless, she assured Duterte's supporters that he's "healthy."

“At least, he said that he is no longer taking any meds. He's okay. Parang tingin ko, he's healthy. But as an old man, mahina na maglakad," she said.

Zimmerman noted that Duterte doesn't want to exercise. "Gusto lang niya magsleep, gusto lang niya manood ng TV. After ng TV, sleep na naman," she said, adding that he also reads books, "but not so much."

According to Zimmerman, Duterte asked about their son, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who also serves as the acting mayor. (The elder Duterte won as mayor in the midterm elections on May 12.)

“Okay ba daw si Baste," she said. "So, sabi ko, 'Okay naman. There's no problem. But your grandson (Rodrigo Duterte II) is also the (acting) vice mayor,' sabi ko."

Zimmerman also relayed a message from Duterte to his supporters: “You go home. Thank you for your support."

"You tell them, 'I am ok,'" she continued.

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.

Duterte and Zimmerman married in 1973. They have three children together: Paolo, Sara, and Sebastian.

In 1998, Zimmerman filed a petition to nullify her marriage amid his serial cheating and was approved two years later.

Since their separation, Duterte has been with Honeylet Avanceña. They have one daughter: Kitty Duterte.