Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

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

Article (news)

Job Manahan

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/1758520098940175811998745620250314-duterte-pre-trial-chamber-ICC (1).webp" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte makes his initial appearance before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court on March 14, 2025. Handout/ICC</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— An undisclosed country has already agreed to host former President Rodrigo Duterte should their plea for interim release be granted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Vice President Sara Duterte said Sunday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/18/duterte-legal-team-urges-icc-to-grant-interim-release-amid-delays-in-fitness-proceedings-0025">Duterte legal team urges ICC to grant interim release amid delays in fitness proceedings</a></div><p>Speaking to supporters in Nagoya, Japan, Duterte said they sought help from certain people she met in Southeast Asia when she was still the Education secretary. </p><p>“Medyo tumagal lang kami dahil nahirapan pa rin kami humanap ng isang bansa na tatanggap sa kanya. At dahil wala akong pinagkakatiwalaan sa Pilipinas noon na kausapin ko patungkol sa interim release, ang ginawa ko, kinausap ko yung mga nakilala ko sa ibang bansa dahil yun sa trabaho ko,” Duterte said on Sunday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/defense-team-seeks-duterte-s-interim-release-in-ph-amid-deteriorating-health-1403">Defense team seeks Duterte&#x27;s interim release in PH amid &#x27;deteriorating&#x27; health</a></div><p>“Meron akong mga nakasama, nakilala noon sa pag-ikot ko sa Southeast Asia dahil sa Department of Education at dahil sa trabaho ko sa Office of the Vice President,” she added.</p><p>No names or countries were mentioned during her speech, but she said she had to convince these individuals why their family needs their help.</p><p>“Kailangan ko pa sila kausapin at kailangan ko pa sila paintindihin kung bakit kailangan namin—ng pamilya namin—ang tulong nila. Kaya medyo tumagal kami pero nakahanap din kami ng isang bansa na nagsabing tatanggapin namin siya,” she added.</p><p>The Vice President lamented that her father – already 80 years old – was still in the ICC’s detention facility despite his health conditions.  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;WALANG BALAK MAGTAGO&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>She said Duterte only wanted to go home to Davao City and has no plans of hiding.</p><p>“Kaya itong tao na ito na sinasabi nila na hindi na namin makikita kung bibigyan namin ng interim release ay gusto lang umuwi ng Davao City. Wala itong balak magtago sa Africa, sa Antarctica, sa Alaska, kung saan man yan. Sa Japan,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/2/sara-duterte-says-barred-from-revealing-more-info-about-icc-visits-1000">&#x27;I can only say he’s alive&#x27;: Sara Duterte says barred from revealing more info about ICC visits</a></div><p>“Wala siyang balak magtago. Dahil ang gusto lang niya umuwi sa Davao City at gusto niyang mamatay doon sa Pilipinas. Paulit-ulit niya yan sinasabi. Gusto kong umuwi dahil gusto kong doon sa Pilipinas mamatay. Yan ang kanyang habilin,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>INTERIM RELEASE PLEA</strong></div><div> </div><p>This month, Duterte’s camp renewed its request of the ICC’s pre-trial chamber to act on their petition for interim release, citing prolonged delays and unresolved logistical issues in assessing his fitness to stand trial. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/13/-sabi-nila-okay-lawyer-says-duterte-kin-statements-outweigh-defense-unfit-claim-1130">&#x27;Sabi nila okay&#x27;: Lawyer says Duterte kin statements outweigh defense &#x27;unfit&#x27; claim</a></div><p>The defense also assured the ICC that Duterte’s release would not interfere with the ongoing litigation or the broader case.</p><p>The receiving state identified by the defense has reportedly agreed to cooperate fully with the court, including facilitating any procedures deemed necessary by the Pre-Trial Chamber.</p><p>The ICC has yet to issue a ruling on the interim release request, and proceedings remain suspended pending further review.</p><p>In August, Duterte’s legal counsel Nicholas Kaufman told ABS-CBN News they obtained essential information needed in their bid for the former leader&#x27;s interim release.</p><p>Kaufman explained that Duterte could theoretically return to the Philippines under an interim release if the Philippine government, the prosecution and the judges agree.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><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/GQyuvw-ByVI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/x50gOdgHhRE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>An undisclosed country has already agreed to host former President Rodrigo Duterte should their plea for interim release be granted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Vice President Sara Duterte said Sunday.</p>

An undisclosed country has already agreed to host former President Rodrigo Duterte should their plea for interim release be granted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Vice President Sara Duterte said Sunday.

One country agreed to host ex-President Duterte for interim release: VP Sara

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One country agreed to host ex-President Duterte for interim release: VP Sara

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 22, 2025 01:39 PM PHT

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Updated September 22, 2025 01:52 PM PHT

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