ICC Rejects Interim Release Bid of Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, Cites VP Sara Duterte in Decision
SARA DUTERTE – The International Criminal Court (ICC) back its decision to reject the interim release bid of former President Rodrigo Duterte with his daughter’s speeches as a contributing factor.
It was in June when the camp of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte filed an application for interim release. Shortly after, his lawyers asked the ICC to withhold from making a decision as they await some information and documents that will back their plea.
In August, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s camp renewed their application for his interim release. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also claimed that a “third country” allegedly committed to host the interim release of former Pres. Duterte.
The Vice President refused to disclose which country agreed to host the interim release of her father but clarified that it is not Japan, Australia, or any country she previously visited. According to her, she sought the help of her contacts in other countries as she supposedly cannot trust anyone in the Philippines.
Amid the interim release plea of Duterte’s camp, the ICC prosecutors asserted that the continued detention of the former President is allegedly necessary. Recently, the foreign court released its decision over the plea.
Based on a report on Inquirer, the ICC rejected the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte citing that he is allegedly a “flight risk”. The foreign court’s pre-trial chamber also stated in its decision that his family allegedly continues to wield power and influence in the Philippines.
Based on the report, the refusal of Duterte’s interim release plea came with a unanimous decision from the three-member Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC) I. According to the court, his continued detention is needed to ensure his presence in the proceedings.
In its decision, the ICC also stated that the speeches of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte are also a contributing factor in the decision to deny the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. They cited the Vice President’s remarks about the idea of “breaking Mr Duterte out of the ICC Detention Center”.
“In addition, his family not only physically resisted, but also publicly voiced criticism regarding his arrest and detention, and demanded that he should be brought back to the Philippines,” the decision read.
Amid his continued detention and the claim of his lawyer that he is allegedly suffering from a ‘cognitive impairment’, the ICC prosecution wants three (3) medical experts to assess the fitness of Duterte to stand trial.