MANILA, Philippines– Malacañang stated on Friday that it will respect the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the interim release appeal filed by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal counsel.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the matter is now in the hands of the ICC, and the court will determine its resolution.
Castro raised questions about a section of the June 12 interim release appeal, which argued that Duterte “does not pose an objective risk of flight,” and therefore “must be immediately released from ICC custody.”
She questioned whether the legal counsel’s statements amounted to an admission that Duterte committed the alleged crimes.
“If that’s their strategy, I hope they can convince the ICC judges,” Castro said, referencing a past broken promise by Duterte’s camp.
Interim release, or provisional release, is a temporary discharge for accused individuals detained by the court.
Duterte is currently held at the ICC detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands, pending trial on allegations of crimes against humanity related to his administration’s drug war. He was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 11 and flown out the same day.
His pre-trial hearing took place on March 14, with a confirmation of charges scheduled for September 23.
