Duterte lawyers hopeful interim release ‘will be granted at soonest possible time’: VP Sara

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Duterte lawyers hopeful interim release ‘will be granted at soonest possible time’: VP Sara

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Jun 16, 2025 08:31 PM PHT

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Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte makes his initial appearance before the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court, March 14, 2025. Handout/ICCFormer president Rodrigo Roa Duterte makes his initial appearance before the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court, March 14, 2025. Handout/ICC

DAVAO CITY — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyers are optimistic that his interim release “will be granted at the soonest possible time,” Vice President Sara Duterte said on Monday, days after her father’s camp confirmed that a request to grant temporary liberty to the detained Filipino leader has already been filed in court.

The former president’s lawyers did not give a timeline on when they expect the International Criminal Court (ICC) to rule on the interim release request for the former president, the Vice President said in a press conference here.

“Lagi niyang (lawyer) sinasabi, ‘We are hoping that it will be granted the soonest possible time.’ Iyan ‘yung lagi niyang sagot kapag tinatanong siya about interim release,” she said.

The Vice President said that their family was not given some leeway in nominating a third country where their patriarch can be temporarily released.

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“Walang binigay na choice sa family. Walang tulong sa ICC,” she said.

The motion to grant an interim release for the Philippines’ 16th president was confirmed last week after the ICC published several court documents on its website.

The defense panel cited Duterte’s old age and ailing condition among the reasons why he deserved to be given some degree of liberty outside the ICC’s detention facility.

“Ang sa akin lang naman is makakabuti talaga yan sa kanya dahil
80-years old na siya at hindi lahat ng pangangailangan ng 80-years old ay
nabibigay ng ICC Detention Unit,” Vice President Duterte said.

“Mas maigi na siguro na mayroon siyang interim release at meron siyang available na nurses and caregivers na mag-assist sa kanya,” she said.

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The Duterte patriarch — who won as Davao city mayor in the 2025 midterm elections — has yet to take his oath of office due to his current detention in the Netherlands.

“Hanggang ngayon, wala pang oath si dating Pangulong Duterte. Hindi pa namin alam dito sa Davao City kung mag-o-oath ba ang pinili namin na Mayor ng Davao City,” said his daughter, who is also the Philippines’ vice president.

“Sa ngayon, hindi siya uupo kasi wala pa siyang oath. Antayin natin siguro until June 30 kung may oath o wala si dating Pangulong Duterte,” she said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier said that the former chief executive may be allowed to take his new oath of office in the Hague provided that it will be administered by a qualified Filipino official.

Should the Duterte patriarch fail to take his oath, his son Davao City Vice Mayor-elect Sebastian Duterte will serve as the city’s acting local chief executive.

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His grandson and namesake Rodrigo Duterte II, the city’s top councilor in the 2025 midterm elections, will act as Davao City’s vice mayor in his uncle’s stead.


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