The Hague, Nov 29 (V7N) — Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will remain in detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) after appeals judges on Friday rejected his request for release on health grounds.
 
Duterte, in his eighties, faces charges of crimes against humanity over alleged involvement in numerous killings linked to his controversial war on drugs, spanning his tenure as mayor of Davao City and later as president from 2016 to 2022. Estimates of the death toll vary widely, with official figures citing over 6,000 deaths, while human rights groups report up to 30,000.
 
Addressing the courtroom in The Hague, Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza said Duterte’s lawyers had failed to show that the lower chamber’s October decision to keep him in custody was unreasonable. The former president was not present during the proceedings.
 
Duterte’s legal team plans to reapply for release following a medical examination scheduled next month, claiming he is “infirm and debilitated” and unable to assist in his defense. The court had previously postponed a pretrial hearing in September for a full medical assessment.
 
Last month, judges decided against his release, citing the risk that Duterte could avoid returning for trial or intimidate witnesses if freed. Defense requests to transfer him to another country’s custody were also denied.
 
The ICC investigation covers alleged killings from Nov. 1, 2011, to March 16, 2019, when the Philippines withdrew from the court, a move widely criticized as an attempt to evade accountability. The appeals judges emphasized that withdrawal cannot shield individuals from crimes already under investigation.
 
The current Philippine government acknowledged the court’s decision. Presidential Communications Secretary Claire Castro said, “The International Criminal Court has already made its decision and the Palace respects it.” Duterte’s family expressed acceptance, stating, “We will continue to work with the defense team and support former President Rodrigo Duterte.”
 
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