Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee secretary administers the oath of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Monday, October 28, 2024 before he begins his testimony before the subcommittee investigating motu proprio the alleged extra-judicial killings during his administration. In his opening statement, Duterte defended his war against illegal drugs, which he said was not about killing people but about protecting the innocent. “My mandate as President of the Republic was to protect the country and the Filipino people. Do not question my policies because I offer no apologies nor excuses. I did what I had to do,” the former chief executive said. “My job as President was never easy... I have tried to do the best I can to address the problem of illegal drugs firmly and without compromises. For all of its successes and shortcomings, I, and I alone take full legal responsibility,” he added. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

Article (news)

SENATE PROBE- EJK

RG Cruz

Zen Hernandez

ABS-CBN News

<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/175739776337320241028-senate-probe-duterte-SPRIB-7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee secretary administers the oath of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Monday, October 28, 2024. Senate PRIB/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— The lead defense counsel of former President Rodrigo Duterte in his ICC case is seeking his return to the Philippines &quot;for the purpose of interim release,&quot; citing his &quot;deteriorating medical situation.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/icc-postpones-duterte-s-confirmation-of-charges-hearing-1938">&#x27;Not fit to stand trial?&#x27; ICC postpones Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing</a></div><p>In a statement, Nicholas Kaufman shared more details about why the defense team moved for the postponement of the confirmation hearing set later this month.</p><p>&quot;Ever since his precipitous and traumatic rendition, the Defense has been struggling with the former President&#x27;s progressively deteriorating medical situation which has affected his ability to assimilate the evidence and to give his lawyers proper instructions,&quot; Kaufman said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/19/nicholas-kaufman-officially-appointed-duterte-s-legal-counsel-1904">Nicholas Kaufman officially appointed as Duterte&#x27;s legal counsel</a></div><p>The international lawyer said they were left with no choice but to invoke his medical condition despite noting of &quot;the former President&#x27;s legacy.&quot;</p><p>&quot;[T]he Defense would not raise such a plea were it not supported by leading medical experts - external to the ICC - including one not selected by the Defense,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;While the former President remains in good spirits, his age and the conditions of detention have taken their toll on him,&quot; he added.</p><p>Kaufman urged the Philippine government to allow Duterte&#x27;s return to the Philippines for his interim release.</p><p>&quot;The Defense sincerely hopes that the current administration which sought fit to outsource its obligation to afford the former President a fair trial in the country of his birth will now let him return home, with dignity, for the purpose of interim release until the end of all legal proceedings,&quot; Kaufman said.</p><p>In a press release on Monday, the ICC said its Pre-Trial Chamber I decided to postpone Duterte&#x27;s confirmation hearing, which was supposed to start on September 23.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>KAUFMAN SLAMS REMULLA</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Kaufman called out Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla over his remark on Monday that drug war whistleblower and former police colonel Royina Garma had left for Malaysia to meet with ICC representatives after she agreed to be a &quot;witness.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/ex-drug-war-cop-garma-in-malaysia-to-meet-with-icc-officials-remulla-1412">Ex-drug war cop Garma meets ICC officials in Malaysia, agrees to testify against Duterte: DOJ</a></div><p>&quot;For reasons, most certainly not innocent, Remulla seems to feel entitled to broadcast, to the entire world, the ICC Prosecution&#x27;s proposed witnesses, purported places of interview and working methodology,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Had the Defense acted in a fashion similar to that of Justice Secretary Remulla, it would have been accused of perverting the course of justice,&quot; Kaufman added.</p><p>At a House Quad Committee hearing last year, Garma directly implicated Duterte in implementing a cash reward system during his war on drugs campaign, citing the so-called “Davao model.”</p><p>“We will see how this will play out because the testimony in the ICC is very important. And not only that, the Wesley Barayuga case is equally important,” Remulla earlier said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>EJK VICTIMS&#x27; KIN OPPOSE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Families of victims of Duterte’s drug war strongly rejected the idea. Their lawyer said that, apart from the Philippines no longer being a member of the ICC, a house arrest in the Philippines is not even part of the discussion with the ICC. </p><p>“Hindi po nila request na bumalik ng Pilipinas at yung sinasabi nilang bansa na pupuntahan at pumayag na mag-host kay Duterte, sabi nila malayo sa Pilipinas,” explained Atty. Kristina Conti of the National Union of People’s Lawyers who serve as assistant counsel to drug war victims’ group Rise Up for Life and for Rights.</p><p>“Hindi kami papayag na bigyan siya ng pansamantalang paglaya. Kung may sakit man siya, gamutin po siya doon,” said Emily Soriano, whose 15-year old son was killed in the drug war in 2016.</p><p>Emily and other families of victims expressed dismay over the ICC’s decision to postpone the confirmation of charges hearing and lambasted the defense team for its alleged tactics to stall justice. </p><p>“Bulok na po yung mga anak namin sa libingan. Na-expire na po. Paano naman po yung hustisya na hinahangad naming mga pamilya?” Emily Soriano added.</p><p>The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I said a “limited postponement” was necessary to address Duterte’s request for an indefinite adjournment, citing claims that he is unfit to stand trial. Judge Maria Socorro Flores Liera dissented, arguing the proceedings should have continued as scheduled. </p><p>ICC-accredited lawyer, Atty. Joel Butuyan, President of CenterLaw and legal counsel to victims, remains confident in the ICC process explaining that based on procedures, the ICC will appoint independent medical experts to assess Duterte’s condition and prevent attempts to evade trial. </p><p>A report will be issued and all parties—including the defense, the prosecution and the victim’s counsel will then be allowed to provide an opinion.</p><p>“We have no reason to doubt that the ICC judges will really make sure that this is not just an excuse to escape liability on the part of the defense and this is not being feigned. Hindi nag-iinarte kumbaga, dahil alam mo na, sa mga pulitiko natin sa Pilipinas karanasan ng ating mga kababayan, kapag nademanda na, naka-wheelchair na, naka neck brace na, at kung anu-ano pa no na ginagawang excuse para ma-avoid lang ang demanda’t ang trial,” he said.</p><p>Meanwhile, for the victims and their lawyers, Garma’s testimony will be a significant boost to the case, as it can also fast-track arrest warrants for eight other co-conspirators to the alleged crimes against humanity of murder.</p><p>“Siya yung magtatawid, magtatawid, siya yung magtatali ng Davao years sa Presidential years no. Dahil nga ang teorya ng ICC Prosecutor, yung Davao model na sinasabi, yung mga pagpatay sa drug war sa Davao, ay inadopt at ginawang national model no, nung naging Presidente si Duterte,” Butuyan explained.</p><p>Butuyan also believes it is safest for Garma to cooperate with the ICC.</p><p>“Talagang maganda na pumunta siya don kasi talagang nanganganib ang buhay niya dahil hindi lang siya testigo laban kay former President Duterte, pero even laban dun sa mga additional.”</p><p>Both prosecution and defense are allowed to bring in additional witnesses even during the trial proper. It is important for the confirmation of charges hearing to proceed first, according to Butuyan.</p><div><br/></div><div><em></em><strong>RELATED VIDEO</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/xPb4FMfGbos?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><strong></strong><em><strong></strong></em><br/></div>

<p>In a statement, Nicholas Kaufman shared more details about why the defense team moved for the postponement of the confirmation hearing set later this month.</p>

In a statement, Nicholas Kaufman shared more details about why the defense team moved for the postponement of the confirmation hearing set later this month.

Defense team seeks Duterte's interim release in PH amid 'deteriorating' health

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Defense team seeks Duterte's interim release in PH amid 'deteriorating' health

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

RG Cruz,

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 09, 2025 02:03 PM PHT

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Updated September 09, 2025 07:14 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

ICC

Duterte

International Criminal Court

health

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