Ahead of September Hearing, Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s Camp Asks ICC for his Interim Release Anew
Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s camp renewed their appeal to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his interim release to an undisclosed country.
Duterte is detained under the custody of the ICC for more than five (5) months now. He is faced with an allegation of crimes against humanity over the war on drugs of his administration.
In June, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s camp asked the ICC for his interim release to an undisclosed country. Several allies of the former Chief Executive in the Philippines also called for his house arrest citing his old age, health conditions, and his prolonged social isolation.
According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, not all the needs of former Pres. Duterte can be provided inside the ICC detention facility. She stressed that her father who is now 80 years old can be considered a “super senior” citizen.
The Vice President believes that former Pres. Duterte may be taken cared of better if they can hire a private nurse or caregiver for him. According to her, the former President has even given his last wish amid his ICC detention in The Hague. He wants to be cremated if he dies during his ICC detention.
Amid their appeal to the court for his interim release, the lawyers of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte previously asked the ICC to pause in making a decision for his interim release bid. British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman claimed that they still await some information and documents that will support their appeal for his client’s interim release.
Recently, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s camp renewed their request for the interim release of the former Chief Executive to the ICC. His legal team submitted a heavily redacted document dated August 19.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s camp urged the chamber to “order Mr. Duterte’s immediate release… subject to any conditions deemed appropriate”. Based on the report, the renewed appeal came ahead of the confirmation of charges against the former Vice President set on September 23.
“Mr. Duterte’s presence at confirmation proceedings may be waived but, if necessary, may equally be ensured by way of videoconferencing,” former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s camp stated in the redacted document.
Previously, the camp of the former President asked ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to be disqualified from the case. However, for his part, the ICC prosecutor rejected Duterte camp’s bid to disqualify him from the case.