Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s longtime companion, Honeylet Avanceña, was seen outside the International Criminal Court detention center in The Hague on Tuesday, marking her first visit to the former leader in more than a year.
Avanceña had been barred from visiting Duterte at the Scheveningen prison after she allegedly discussed the case with him during a phone call, a violation of the detention facility’s rules.
Pro-Duterte vloggers posted a video clip on social media showing Avanceña, who has visibly lost weight, coming out of the detention center on Tuesday.
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Avanceña’s last visit to the former president was on July 23, 2025.
Duterte’s new lead counsel Peter Haynes asked the ICC Trial Chamber III on May 29 to add an unnamed person to the list of non-privileged contacts authorized to communicate with the former president while he remains in the court’s custody.
The chamber granted the request, provided that the court’s monitoring requirements and other conditions are observed.
According to reports, Haynes was chosen by Avanceña and daughter Veronica “Kitty” Duterte to replace Nicholas Kaufman, whose one-year contract ended on March 31.
Duterte’s trial on crimes against humanity charges over alleged drug war killings is set to begin on Nov. 30.
A new medical report on his fitness to stand trial is expected to be submitted to the ICC Registry by Aug. 18.
