Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Families of drug war victims expressed relief and hope for justice following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte during a press conference at the UCCP Chapel in Quezon City on March 12, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

DUTERTE ARREST

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174191927591020250312-duterte-ikulong-ejk-widows-MT09.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Families of drug war victims expressed relief and hope for justice following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte during a press conference at the UCCP Chapel in Quezon City on March 12, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (UPDATE) — The International Criminal Court (ICC) should not grant former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s expected application for &quot;interim release,&quot; lawyers of the drug war victims said Friday ahead of his first court appearance at The Hague-based court.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/11/dozens-of-cops-at-naia-ahead-of-rodrigo-duterte-s-expected-arrival-0951">Ex-President Duterte arrested on ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity</a></div><p>Duterte, accused of crimes against humanity in relation to his bloody drug war, was arrested Tuesday and sent to The Hague by Philippine authorities on the same day.</p><p>&quot;Interim release&quot; allows an accused of temporary liberty pending trial and under certain conditions such territorial limit among others. The request must be made in writing and must be decided upon by the pre-trial chamber without delay. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/3/11/catching-the-worlds-most-wanted-the-icc-s-impossible-task-1750">Catching the world&#x27;s most wanted: The ICC&#x27;s impossible task</a></div><p>&quot;Interim release pending trial is a right of the accused... [But] victims believe he is a flight risk – he is running for mayor of Davao City – and a threat to the safety of witnesses and evidence,&quot; according to National Union of Peoples&#x27; Lawyers&#x27; (NUPL) Neri Colmenares and Kristina Conti.</p><p>Conti is an ICC-registered counsel and is expected to represent the families of EJK victims before the ICC. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/14/duterte-case-seen-as-a-gift-for-embattled-icc-0824">Duterte case seen as a &#x27;gift&#x27; for embattled ICC</a></div><p>The NUPL said that while every accused has a right to &quot;interim release,&quot; Duterte should not be &quot;entitled&quot; to such.</p><p>They said that Duterte was even luckier to have the opportunity to face court, unlike his alleged victims who were simply gunned down and deprived of the chance to defend themselves. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/11/wife-of-ejk-victim-reacts-to-dutertes-arrest-siya-inaresto-yung-asawa-ko-binaril-2315">&#x27;Buti pa siya inaresto, yung asawa ko binaril agad&#x27;: Wife of EJK victim on Duterte&#x27;s arrest</a></div><p>&quot;This is a unique opportunity to educate ourselves on the intricacies of due process, which victims of the war on drugs have barely enjoyed. Duterte’s best defense lies within the court’s walls, not with politics in the Philippines or rallying outside the detention center,&quot; the lawyers said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/13/watch-where-is-rodrigo-duterte-staying-while-facing-icc-charges-1019">Where is ex-President Duterte staying while facing ICC charges?</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/12/dutertes-arrest-a-warning-vs-powerful-abusers-around-the-world-groups-1850">Duterte&#x27;s arrest a &#x27;warning&#x27; vs powerful abusers around the world: groups</a></div><p>The lawyers said they will formally file their opposition in the ICC when the time comes. </p><p>&quot;[We] will present these comments on any such petition in a timely and proper manner.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/13/former-philippine-president-rodrigo-duterte-to-appear-before-icc-on-march-14-1507">Rodrigo Duterte to appear before ICC on March 14</a></div><p>The former President is currently detained at the Scheveningen detention center. His camp has previously said that he may seek hospital arrest due to his health condition and requirements.</p><p>The ICC announced that Duterte is set to make his first appearance before the chamber Thursday, 9 p.m. Manila time.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4_uV63vtEjk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The NUPL said Rodrigo Duterte was even luckier to have the opportunity to face court, unlike his alleged victims who were simply gunned down and deprived of the chance to defend themselves.</p>

The NUPL said Rodrigo Duterte was even luckier to have the opportunity to face court, unlike his alleged victims who were simply gunned down and deprived of the chance to defend themselves.

Duterte should not be granted interim release by ICC, say drug war victims

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Duterte should not be granted interim release by ICC, say drug war victims

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 14, 2025 10:35 AM PHT

|

Updated March 14, 2025 11:40 AM PHT

Read More:

ICC

International Criminal Court

crimes against humanity

Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte

interim release

politics

The Hague

Netherlands

EJK

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