Jamaine Punzalan

Former President Rodrigo Duterte, February 13, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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20250213-PDP Laban-proclamation rally-MT

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174977231453820220213-pdp-laban-proclamation-rally-MT-7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former President Rodrigo Duterte, February 13, 2025.<em> Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte could secure interim release from the International Criminal Court (ICC) if the undisclosed country that agreed to receive him could guarantee that he would attend hearings, a lawyer representing victims of alleged killings in his drug war said Friday.</p><p>The 80-year-old Duterte’s defense team <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/12/interim-release-from-icc-sought-for-detained-duterte-0055">sought his interim release to an unspecified location</a>, saying that he is not a flight risk and citing his advanced age.</p><p>The “heavily redacted” request posted on the official website of the ICC could have also noted Duterte’s health concerns in asking for his release, said rights lawyer Kristina Conti.</p><p>“Heavily redacted itong version na nakita natin. Hindi natin alam yung grounds, hindi natin alam kung ano yung estado, yung state na tatanggap sa kanya, hindi natin alam yung condition,” she told DZMM.</p><p>Asked about the likelihood that the ICC could grant Duterte’s request, she said, “Fifty-fifty kami d’yan.”</p><p>“Kung meron lang receiving state na malapit sa The Hague, tapos sisiguraduhin nila na…makakasipot sa mga hearing si Duterte, kumbaga, lalambot kung sakali para kay Duterte na payagan,” Conti told DZMM.</p><p>“Yung pag-areglo ng mga rekisitio e half of the job,” she said.</p><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/xE27eTIxezU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Conti said she hoped the ICC would allow victims to weigh in on the issue.</p><p>“Kaya lang siyempre ang hirap din kung humanitarian grounds at diumano ay may sakit [si Duterte], siyempre ito ang due process,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘NON-OPPOSITION’ BY PROSECUTION </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Duterte’s team noted that “since the Chief Prosecutor’s leave of absence, the Prosecution has confirmed its non-opposition to interim release…on the understanding that the terms and conditions set out in Annex A to this filing would be met.”</p><p>ICC’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan went on leave pending the conclusion of a probe into a misconduct allegation against him. </p><p>Conti said she was dismayed by reports that the ICC prosecutor would not oppose Duterte’s bid for interim release.</p><p>“Para naman akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig. Lalo na nung mabasa ko na hindi raw kokontrahin ng prosecutor ang interim release ni Duterte,” Conti wrote on X, the former Twitter. </p><p>“Magko-konsultahan kami ng mga biktima/kliyente, pero nung huling usap namin hindi sila pabor sa anumang special treatment kay Duterte,” she said.</p><p>Duterte, 80, was arrested at Manila&#x27;s international airport on March 11 and flown to The Hague the same day to face crimes against humanity charges tied to his crackdown on drugs that killed thousands of mostly poor men.</p><p>Duterte on March 14 appeared via video link before ICC judges. He is set to attend a September 23 hearing to confirm the charges against him.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/12/prosecution-says-duterte-s-icc-jurisdiction-challenge-fundamentally-flawed-1433">Prosecution says Duterte’s ICC jurisdiction challenge ‘fundamentally flawed’</a></div><div><strong>— With reports from Kasandra Salonga, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Former President Rodrigo Duterte could secure interim release from the International Criminal Court (ICC) if the undisclosed country that agreed to receive would guarantee his attendance in hearings, a lawyer representing victims of alleged killings in his drug war said Friday.</p>

Former President Rodrigo Duterte could secure interim release from the International Criminal Court (ICC) if the undisclosed country that agreed to receive would guarantee his attendance in hearings, a lawyer representing victims of alleged killings in his drug war said Friday.

‘50-50’ odds that ICC will grant Duterte interim release: victims’ lawyer

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‘50-50’ odds that ICC will grant Duterte interim release: victims’ lawyer

Jamaine Punzalan

Published Jun 13, 2025 07:54 AM PHT

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Updated Jun 13, 2025 08:33 AM PHT

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