Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Carlos Trazo

ABS-CBN News

(UPDATED) Judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber have unanimously confirmed the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I that remanded former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in detention. The ICC, in a statement Friday, said the Appeals Chamber either rejected or dismissed all of the defense’s arguments and rejected the defense’s ground of appeal in its entirety.It ruled that the Pre-Trial Chamber acted correctly in relying on the panel of independent medical experts rather than the defense&#x27;s own report on Duterte&#x27;s health. “The Panel’s Reports provide the most updated and reliable information on Mr Duterte’s health condition,” the Appeals Chamber noted, adding that the defense&#x27;s filing did not introduce new facts.The defense argued that its report was a new circumstance under Article 60(3) of the Rome Statute and should have been considered. “Mr Duterte’s continued pre-trial detention would, otherwise, have been unjustified,” the appeal brief stated. However, the Appeals Chamber found that the defense&#x27;s report contained no fresh examination and relied only on information already in the panel’s findings.The Appeals Chamber stressed that impartiality must be preserved. “With a view to preserving the fairness of the proceedings, the Chamber shall not rely on medical reports provided by a party to the proceedings,” it recalled, rejecting claims that this undermined equality of arms.The chamber also emphasized that time alone does not justify release. “The passage of time alone does not per se lead to the conclusion that circumstances have changed in favour of interim release,” the judgment stated.Duterte&#x27;s lawyer, Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, said the chamber&#x27;s latest judgment &quot;simply reinforces &quot; the court’s policy.“The former President has already made his views known regarding the prospects of release in his waiver.In my opinion, the reasoning disclosed in the latest judgment simply reinforces the Court’s policy of never releasing any surrendered suspect in a crimes against humanity case - no matter what his personal humanitarian circumstances,&quot; he said.Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025  on his arrival from Hong Kong at the request of the ICC as part of its probe into his &quot;war on drugs&quot; that defined his presidency.The ICC warrant for Duterte&#x27;s arrest said that as president, Duterte allegedly created, funded, and armed death squads that carried out murders of purported drug users and dealers.He was brought to The Hague in the Netherlands on the same day he was arrested.

Judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber have unanimously confirmed the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I that remanded former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in detention.

Judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber have unanimously confirmed the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I that remanded former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in detention.

ICC Appeals Chamber upholds Duterte detention

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ICC Appeals Chamber upholds Duterte detention

Jojo Pasion Malig,

Carlos Trazo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 06, 2026 10:05 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 06, 2026 11:49 PM PHT

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ICC

Rodrigo Duterte

war on drugs

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