Boying Remulla Opposes Duterte’s ICC Interim Release: “The best medical care is already available in the Netherlands”

DOJ Chief Boying Remulla Speaks on ICC Interim Release Bid of Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

BOYING REMULLA – The Department of Justice Chief expressed an opposition to the interim release bid of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is detained under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands for more than three (3) months now. The former Chief Executive is faced with an allegation of crimes against humanity over his administration’s war on drugs.

Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte maintained that everything he did during his term as president was for the country and the Filipino people. He was arrested by the Philippine authorities last March 11 and spent his 80th birthday in ICC detention last March 28.

Recently, the camp of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte asked for his ICC interim release to an undisclosed country. A nation was reportedly ready to take in the former Philippine President.

Duterte's Lead Counsel Nicholas Kaufman
Photo Courtesy of GMA News

According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, they requested for her father’s interim release as not all his needs can allegedly be provided inside the ICC detention facility. According to her, her 80-year-old father who can be called a “super senior” citizen may be better taken cared of in a place where they can hire a nurse or caregiver for him.

Sara Duterte 2
Photo Source: BusinessWorld

The claim of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte over the interim release bid of her father to the ICC gained a comment from Justice Secretary Boying Remulla. Based on a report on PhilStar, the DOJ Chief believes that asking for an interim release is not the appropriate move if the matter is about the needs of the former President.

Boying Remulla

According to DOJ Sec. Boying Remulla, Netherlands already has the best medical care. He believes that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s case should be heard as possible and moving him may not be good for the former President.

“The way I look at it, the best medical care is already available in the Netherlands. And moving him might even cause a few more adjustments that would not be good for him,” Remulla expressed.

Based on the report, DOJ Sec. Boying Remulla believes that former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte should better remain where he is now and wait for the case to be heard. The Confirmation of Charges is set on September 23.

“So let’s just wait for the case to be heard, and let’s just stay put where he is right now,” the Justice Secretary said.

Aside from the DOJ Chief, the ICC prosecutor is also against the interim release of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.

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