ICC Rejects Bid to Free Ex-Philippines President Duterte from Detention

The International Criminal Court (ICC) ruled that the Philippines’ former president Rodrigo Duterte, 80, must remain in detention despite a defence appeal seeking his release on the grounds of age and deteriorating health.

 

Presiding judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza told the hearing that lawyers for the former leader had not provided adequate safeguards to justify temporary release from custody in The Hague, where the court is based.

 

“The Appeals Chamber found that the defence failed to identify errors” in the lower court’s decision that Duterte should stay detained, Judge Ibáñez Carranza said. Duterte was not present in court to hear the ruling.

 

His legal team had renewed calls for a “humanitarian” parole, citing his health, but the judge said the proposed conditions were insufficient to mitigate the risks associated with granting interim release. The court also rejected arguments that humanitarian considerations warranted his release.

 

Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested and brought to The Hague in March over killings committed during his anti-drug campaign, in which thousands of alleged drug dealers and users died.

 

The appeals judges dismissed the request for provisional release on health grounds, meaning he will remain in court custody while awaiting a possible trial. His grandson, Omar Duterte, told reporters the former president was not a flight risk and should have been freed, adding: “Half the time, while we are talking, he doesn’t even know why he’s in there.”

 

In Manila, families of victims watched the ruling together, holding signs reading: “Duterte’s detention is our safety, no to interim release.” Some reacted with visible relief as the decision was announced.

 

The ICC arrest warrant alleges that Duterte created, funded and armed death squads. Police records state that 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations, though activists say the true number is far higher, with the ICC prosecutor estimating up to 30,000 deaths.

 

Duterte has consistently defended the crackdown, saying he instructed police to kill only in self-defence. In a statement from Manila, the Duterte family said they accepted the court’s decision “with peaceful hearts”.

 

His lawyers have filed several motions seeking to have the case dismissed.

 

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