Human rights groups oppose Duterte’s bid for ICC release

International

RODRIGO DUTERTE wants a breather from International Criminal Court (ICC) detention — but activists say victims can’t afford one.

The former president’s request for interim release from ICC custody has drawn sharp opposition from human rights groups and lawmakers, who say granting it would endanger witnesses and survivors of his administration’s anti-drug campaign.

Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, filed the petition with the ICC last Thursday. While the Pre-Trial Chamber has yet to decide on the request, the prosecution is expected to file a response, and legal representatives for victims have also signaled plans to formally object.

Bayan Muna chair and victims’ counsel Neri Colmenares stressed that the ICC process allows space for victims’ participation. He explained that even if the prosecution does not oppose the release outright, there remains a conflict between the prosecution’s conditions for provisional release and a separate set of terms submitted by Duterte’s defense. According to Colmenares, this disagreement could further delay any decision.

“The victims and their legal representatives may still assert their right to submit their opposition to Duterte’s application,” he said in an Inquirer report.

He also warned that freeing Duterte could violate Article 58 of the Rome Statute, which prohibits the release of anyone who could obstruct proceedings or pose a threat to the court process.

Colmenares cited recent intimidation and harassment targeting victims and lawyers, which he believes would escalate if Duterte were allowed provisional liberty.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro added that Duterte, even if held abroad, could still influence witnesses, disseminate disinformation, and compromise the integrity of the ICC proceedings. “Duterte remains dangerous even if he is abroad,” she said in the same report.

Representative-elect Antonio Tinio linked Duterte’s legal strategy to reported foreign travel by his children, Vice President Sara Duterte and Rep. Paolo Duterte. He alleged that their trips may be part of efforts to find a country willing to host the former president should the ICC approve his release. While unconfirmed, Tinio said the pattern raises red flags about attempts to undermine accountability.

“The ICC must prioritize the safety and security of victims and witnesses over the convenience of the accused,” Tinio added.

On March 11, Duterte was barred from leaving the country after returning from Hong Kong, as local authorities helped enforce an ICC warrant issued for crimes against humanity tied to his war on drugs.

That campaign, launched in 2016 under Oplan Tokhang, has faced widespread condemnation from international watchdogs. While the administration credited it with reducing drug-related crime, critics pointed to a wave of extrajudicial killings, often involving minors and low-income communities.(MyTVCebu)