Update from the Duterte Family on the ICC Interim Release Verdict
Duterte family released a statement following the International Criminal Court (ICC) rejecting the interim release plea of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is detained under the custody of the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands since March. He is faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged “crimes against humanity” filed by the ICC prosecutor. His camp has applied for an inteim release.
The Duterte family members took turns in visiting former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte inside the ICC detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands. However, last September 26, the International Criminal Court rejected the interim release plea of the former President. His camp filed an appeal over the decision of the foreign court and a hearing was recently held.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte skipped the ICC hearing on his interim release plea. He signed a waiver waiving his rights to personally appear at the hearing. He was represented by his lawyer, Atty. Nicholas Kaufman.
At 5:30 p.m. (Manila time), the ICC announced its ruling rejecting the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. The court’s devosopm was upheld by the Appeals Chamber read in open court by Presiding Judge Luz Del Carmen Ibañez Carranza.
The Appeals junked all three (3) grounds of appeal made by the defense team of the former President. The legal team of Duterte argued the following grounds:
- The Pre-Trial Chamber erroneously found that Duterte poses a risk under Article 58(1)(b) of the Rome Statute
- The Pre-Trial Chamber erred in its rejection of the guarantees proposed by the State willing to receive him
- The Pre-Trial Chamber erred in law by failing to take into account humanitarian considerations in assessing the right to interim release.
Following the decision of the ICC junking the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte on its final ruling, the Duterte family immediately issued a statement. All his children are currently in the Philippines.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Duterte family said they accept the ICC ruling on the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte “with peaceful hearts”. They stressed that they will continue to work with the defense team of their patriarch.
“We will continue to work with the defense team on the case and will keep supporting Former President Rodrigo Duterte with our daily conversations. We thank everyone who prayed with us today,” the Duterte family said.
Previously, the camp of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte asked the ICC to immediately and unconditionally release the former President.