Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Carlos Trazo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team will accept any conditions the International Criminal Court (ICC) may impose, marking a pivotal shift in the ongoing proceedings.</p><p>In a recent filing, the defense lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman, who was previously instructed by Duterte to pursue all avenues for his interim release, offered the proposal &quot;in the full understanding that it will apply to any conditions for interim release.&quot;</p><p>This includes residence in a third country, travel restrictions, and monitoring measures, should the ICC decide to grant temporary freedom while the case remains pending.</p><p>The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber is currently reviewing the defense’s request, following its decision to seek input from both the host state, the Netherlands, and a third country willing to host Duterte. </p><p>The chamber had initially expected to confirm charges by November 2025, but with the hearing now postponed indefinitely, the court is weighing whether continued detention remains necessary.</p><p>Kaufman said the Philippine government, which surrendered Duterte to the ICC earlier this year, has not opposed the move.</p><p>He quoted Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, who said the Marcos administration will respect whatever decision the ICC hands down.</p><p>On Saturday, Castro clarified that the administration &quot;is not privy and has no hand to the former President Duterte&#x27;s ongoing trial before ICC, particularly his request for interim release.&quot;</p><p>&quot;However, as part of the legal process,  no matter what the ICC decides, we will still respect it,&quot; she added.</p><p>Vice President Duterte earlier revealed that a third country had agreed to host her father if interim release is granted, though she declined to name the nation. She emphasized that the former president has no intention of evading justice and simply wishes to return to Davao under humanitarian grounds.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/22/duterte-camp-finds-host-country-for-possible-interim-release-vp-sara-1339">READ: One country agreed to host ex-President Duterte for interim release: VP Sara</a></div><p>Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing was originally scheduled to start on September 23, but on September 8, despite one dissenting opinion, the Pre-Trial Chamber I voted for a “limited postponement” of the proceedings.</p><p>Duterte, now 80 years old, faces accusations linked to thousands of killings during this administration’s bloody “war on drugs” carried out on a national scale in the Philippines, between November 2011 and March 2019. </p><p>Duterte’s legal team has requested to adjourn proceedings, claiming the former Philippine leader is suffering from “cognitive impairment in multiple domains,” rendering him unfit to stand trial.</p><div><br/></div><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/qXBleBgGKkA??si=RkDPOgX42yRR4HYY&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team will accept any conditions the International Criminal Court (ICC) may impose, marking a pivotal shift in the ongoing proceedings.</p>

Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team will accept any conditions the International Criminal Court (ICC) may impose, marking a pivotal shift in the ongoing proceedings.

Duterte legal team to accept any conditions imposed by ICC for possible interim release

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Duterte legal team to accept any conditions imposed by ICC for possible interim release

Carlos Trazo,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 27, 2025 12:16 AM PHT

|

Updated September 27, 2025 02:45 PM PHT

Read More:

ICC

Rodrigo Duterte

interim release

Nicholas Kaufman

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