The Hague, Netherlands — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team has formally requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) to approve his immediate interim release to an undisclosed country, according to a filing made public this week.
The request follows a previous motion by the defense asking ICC pre-trial judges to delay their ruling on the matter. The defense now urges the court to expedite the process, though it has not disclosed the reasons for the urgency behind the request.
The country where Duterte would be sent, if granted interim release, remains confidential. The defense stated that revealing its identity at this stage could compromise diplomatic and legal considerations.
The ICC has not yet responded to the request, and no timeline for a ruling has been announced.