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Irish Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Rodrigo Duterte: Hague court is asked to refuse request for interim release of former president of the Philippines
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been asked to dismiss an application for the interim release of former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte. The plea has come from families of victims of Mr Duterte's 'war on drugs' as well as ecumenical groups and human rights lawyers. Duterte (79) was detained in March as he stepped off a flight in Manila. He was transferred to The Hague where he made a court appearance by video link from the UN detention unit at Scheveningen jail, two kilometres away, a few days later. During that hearing, Mr Duterte was read the charges against him, in which he is named as a 'direct co-perpetrator' of 19 murders carried out by the notorious Davao Death Squad during his time as mayor of that city. READ MORE He is also charged with 24 killings carried out by police or 'others not part of the police' during his time as president between 2016 and 2019, when up to 30,000 people are believed to have died, many in indiscriminate shootings. A confirmation-of-charges hearing has been set for September 23rd. If the case against Mr Duterte goes ahead at the ICC, he will become the first former Asian head of state to be tried there. Last month, the former president's lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, petitioned the ICC's pretrial chamber of judges for his interim release to an undisclosed third country – the name of which was redacted from public documents. He said Mr Duterte, known to suffer from chronic neuromuscular disorder and other illnesses, was 'not a flight risk'. 'He is no longer president of the Philippines and does not command the same influence or power he is said to have abused during the period of the alleged crimes.' In response, Paolina Massidda of the ICC's Office of Public Counsel for Victims argued that the gravity of the charges against Mr Duterte made his detention justified to ensure his presence at trial. In addition, she said Mr Duterte already had access to the bulk of the evidence against him, including the identities of prosecution witnesses. Philippine human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares, who has represented many of those killed, said: 'Given the long history of threats, harassment and even killings targeting witnesses and human rights lawyers, we assert that Duterte's release would escalate these attacks.' An ecumenical human rights group attached to the United Methodist Church agreed. 'Duterte must remain in detention because this ensures his trial will proceed,' said Deaconess Rubylin Litao. 'Anything less would dishonour the suffering of the thousands killed – and the grief of those left behind.'
South China Morning Post
01-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Philippines' Rodrigo Duterte wants to keep Davao house for sentimental reasons
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has stepped in to defuse a potential family feud over his Davao City house that was put up for sale, saying he is unwilling to offload the property due to its sentimental value. Advertisement Duterte's partner Honeylet Avancena said she was seeking buyers for the residence, citing her emotional concerns ever since the Davao mayor was held in a detention centre in The Hague over his charges linked to his war on drugs, in which thousands of purported dealers and users were killed. 'It hurts my chest every time I go inside. I'm the only one who enters now. There are four house helpers, but no master,' Avancena told radio station DZRH. 'We abandoned it after what happened. I cannot sleep there any more because the lawyers asked us to install CCTV even inside the bedroom.' A 'for sale' sign was seen in front of the house over the weekend, but it later disappeared. Advertisement Paolo Duterte, the ex-leader's lawmaker son, said the home was the first his father bought with his own money, and he 'doesn't want to let it go'.
South China Morning Post
24-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Australia eyed for Duterte's possible interim release from The Hague detention
Philippines ' Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio said her father's lawyers were looking at Australia for his release to a third-party country, The Philippine Star newspaper reported on Tuesday. Duterte has been detained in The Hague since March over alleged crimes linked to his administration's 'war on drugs', a campaign that resulted in thousands of deaths among suspected drug dealers and users. The former president, who claimed the arrest was unlawful and equal to kidnapping, has petitioned the ICC for an interim release to another country earlier this month, according to his lawyer. Play Duterte-Carpio flew to Melbourne last Tuesday for a week-long visit which she said was a 'personal trip' instead of a holiday or to scout for a possible location for her father if he was released. 'I am not here for the interim release, not for this visit,' she said on Sunday, according to ABS-CBN News. 'I am here to discuss with the Filipino community on ways forward for our country, and of course how we can push the administration to do more for our country.'
Reuters
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Philippines' Duterte seeks interim release from ICC
MANILA, June 13 (Reuters) - Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has petitioned the International Criminal Court to allow his interim release to another country, his lawyer said in a filing, citing his advanced age and a vow not to flee or commit any further crimes. Duterte was arrested and taken to The Hague in March on murder charges linked to his "war on drugs", where thousands of alleged narcotics peddlers and users were killed. He has maintained his arrest was unlawful. Duterte's counsel Nicholas Kaufman told the ICC's pre-trial chamber that a third country had already expressed its "advance and principled agreement to receive Mr. Duterte onto its territory", according to the request released on Thursday. The name of the country was redacted in the text released to the public. Duterte is not a flight risk and will not commit further crimes if released, his counsel said. "Mr Duterte is no longer the President of the Philippines, and does not command the same influence or power he is said to have abused during the period of the alleged crimes," the request stated. Duterte cited "humanitarian reasons" in his request, saying that he is already 80 years old. The request also said the prosecution would not oppose Duterte's interim release as long as certain undisclosed terms are met. The office of the prosecutor did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside office hours. ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti, who represents drug war victims, told broadcaster DZMM that her clients have opposed Duterte's interim release from the start. Duterte was swept to power in 2016 on a signature campaign to eradicate drug use in the country. During his six years in office, 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations, according to government data. Rights groups say the actual toll was far greater. Despite his detention, he overwhelmingly won as mayor in his home city of Davao during midterm elections.
Bloomberg
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Philippine Ex-Leader Duterte Seeks Release From ICC Detention
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has requested the International Criminal Court in The Hague for his interim release, three months after he was arrested for alleged crimes against humanity under his controversial war on drugs. Duterte, 80, is not a flight risk and a certain government has agreed to take him in during the interim release, according to a June 12 request made by his counsel Nicholas Kaufman. Portions of the document, including the name of the country that agreed to host Duterte, were redacted.
