ICC Denies Duterte Interim Release, Remains in The Hague

The International Criminal Court on Friday denied former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's request for interim release, ruling that his continued detention in The Hague is necessary to ensure his appearance at trial and to protect the integrity of ongoing proceedings. The Pre-Trial Chamber issued a written decision on October 10 ordering that Duterte remain at the court's detention unit in Scheveningen, saying the risks identified under the Rome Statute outweigh the humanitarian arguments presented by his defence.

Duterte's lawyers had argued that the 80 year old's declining health and cognitive impairment made him neither a flight risk nor a danger to the proceedings, and they sought temporary release on humanitarian grounds. The defence said the former president was easily identifiable and could be found and returned to the court if necessary, and that his medical condition made it unlikely he could interfere with witnesses. The defence has also urged the court to postpone proceedings indefinitely on fitness grounds.

Prosecutors countered that detention remained necessary to secure Mr Duterte's appearance and to guard against the risk of obstruction or witness...