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| The ICC says Duterte is a high flight risk |
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected former president Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release, ruling that his detention must continue under the Rome Statue due to high flight risks, obstruction and potential further offences.
The Oct 10 decision was influenced largely by Vice President Sara Duterte’s public remarks and actions, particularly her suggestion that she would “break her father out” of ICC detention and her attempts to discredit the court by alleging collusion and fake witnesses.
VP Duterte’s comments made in August that her father intended to return to Davao City if freed, was also said to contradict his lawyers’ assurance that he would stay in the unnamed host country.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
Apart from this, the ICC said that given the former president’s “political influence, extensive network in the Philippines and continued support” including that of his daughter, increased the possibility that he would abscond if released.
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| Duterte's supposed frail health is cited as a ground for the interim release application (File) |
In response to the decision, Duterte’s lead lawyer Nicholas Kaufman said the defense has already filed an appeal. Surprisingly, Kaufman said this was done “a week ago,” when the decision was published only on Friday.
He also said that if the case was before a domestic court, “there would have been no hesitation to release an 80 year old sick and debilitated man, kept from the public for more than half a year, and for whom unprecedented State guarantees had been provided.”
Kaufman hit out at what he said “civil society activist lawyers” being quoted actively in the media of accusing Duterte’s supporters of judicial trolling and lambasting defence submissions and filing “frivolous” petitions to sanction him.
Separately, the former president’s son, Davao City 1st District Paulo “Pulong” Duterte has slammed the ICC’s decision on the interim release as a “gross and disgraceful miscarriage of justice” and as “political theater.”
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| PINDUTIN DITO |
Rep Duterte also said in his Facebook post that the Central Intelligence Agency was complicit in what he again described as his father’s kidnapping.
He warned those who took part in the alleged abduction that they will “pay for this crime,” adding that they might just have turned his father into a martyr.
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| Duterte supporters outside the ICC's detention facility at The Hague |
Duterte’s lawyers had asked for his temporary release, citing his age, supposed unstable mental health, and his willingness to remain in a third country that will take him in while the case against him is being heard.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
But the ICC decided Duterte must continue to remain in detention as he faces charges of multiple murders and attempted murder as crimes against humanity.
The decision was signed by Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc, Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou, and Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera.
