Former President Rodrigo Duterte will remain isolated for an extended period after the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague denied his request for an interim release, citing continued concerns he was a flight risk, his rejection of the court’s authority, and Vice President Sara Duterte’s rant about springing him from detention.
In a decision released by Pre-Trial Chamber I, all three ICC judges ruled that Duterte’s detention “remains necessary” under Article 60(2) of the Rome Statute, which governs the court, and in line with conditions set by Article 58(1).
Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity, specifically murder and attempted murder, in connection with the thousands of deaths linked to his controversial war on drugs.
The ruling detailed multiple factors behind the court’s decision, including Duterte’s public rejection of his arrest, labeling it as a “pure and simple kidnapping, ” and his family’s actions and statements that undermined the court’s authority.
Court skeptical
“With regard to the need to ensure Mr. Duterte’s presence at trial, the Chamber recalls that Mr. Duterte has, from his initial appearance, contested his arrest and detention, qualifying it as a pure and simple kidnapping,” the tribunal said.
The chamber highlighted that members of Duterte’s family “physically resisted” his arrest and “publicly demanded” his return to the Philippines.
It also took note of a 19 July speech by Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, in which she reportedly mentioned breaking him out of the ICC Detention Center and accused the court of colluding with the Philippine government and using “fake witnesses.”
Further, the ICC cited an incident on 19 August where Duterte allegedly told his daughter he would return to Davao City if granted an interim release, contradicting his defense team’s claim that he would remain within the jurisdiction of the state where he would be released.
“The foregoing illustrates Mr. Duterte’s rejection of the proceedings against him before the Court, and the will of his close family to help him elude detention and prosecution,” the ICC said.