THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court’s Appeals Chamber on Friday rejected former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s appeal for interim release, ordering that he remain in detention as proceedings in his crimes against humanity case continue.
In a decision made public Friday, the Appeals Chamber upheld an earlier ruling by Pre-Trial Chamber I, which found Duterte’s release would pose risks to witnesses, evidence, and the integrity of the investigation. Judges also ruled that conditions proposed for his release were insufficient to mitigate those risks.
ICC: Continued Detention
Pre-Trial Chamber I had previously determined that Duterte’s continued detention was necessary and dismissed arguments from his legal team that he should be freed on humanitarian grounds.
Duterte’s defense appealed that ruling on three grounds, arguing that the chamber erred in finding he posed a risk, in rejecting guarantees offered by a state willing to receive him, and in failing to weigh humanitarian considerations.
The Appeals Chamber — composed of Presiding Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, Judge Tomoko Akane, Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa, Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze, and Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin — unanimously rejected all three claims.
The panel said the Pre-Trial Chamber’s findings were supported by a “comprehensive assessment of the information” before it and that the defense failed to show any error in the chamber’s reasoning or demonstrate that its conclusions were unreasonable.
Prosecutors, Victims Oppose
Prosecutors and victims’ representatives had strongly opposed Duterte’s request for interim release, arguing he maintained substantial political influence that could be used to obstruct proceedings.
Duterte, who waived his right to be present for Friday’s ruling, remains detained at the ICC’s Scheveningen facility in The Hague. He faces three counts of murder linked to 49 killings allegedly committed during his administration’s bloody anti-drug campaign.
He was arrested and transferred to ICC custody earlier this year after the court authorized proceedings against him for crimes against humanity.
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