Philippines’ Duterte seeks interim ICC release to undisclosed country

“Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is not a flight risk and will not commit crimes if released,” his counsel said. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has petitioned the International Criminal Court to allow his interim release to another country, his lawyer said in a filing, citing his advanced age and a vow not to flee or commit any crimes.

Mr. Duterte was arrested and taken to The Hague in March on murder charges linked to his “war on drugs”, where thousands of alleged narcotics peddlers and users were killed. He has maintained his arrest was unlawful and tantamount to kidnapping.

Mr. Duterte’s counsel Nicholas Kaufman told the ICC’s pre-trial chamber a third country had expressed its “advance and principled agreement to receive Mr. Duterte onto its territory”, according to the request released on Thursday (June 12, 2025). The name of the country was redacted in the text released to the public.

Mr. Duterte is not a flight risk and will not commit crimes if released, his counsel said.

“Mr. Duterte is no longer the President of the Philippines and does not command the same influence or power he is said to have abused during the period of the alleged crimes,” the request stated.

Mr. Duterte was swept to power in 2016 on a signature campaign to tackle crime and eradicate illegal drugs in the Philippines. During his six years in office, 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations, according to government data, but rights groups say the actual toll was far greater.

Mr. Duterte cited humanitarian reasons in his request, saying that he is already 80 years old.

It also said the prosecution would not oppose Mr. Duterte’s interim release as long as certain undisclosed terms are met.

The office of the prosecutor in an email said it would file before the ICC pre-trial chamber a response to Mr. Duterte’s request, a public version of which will be available “which will clearly set out its position”.

ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti, who represents drug war victims, told broadcaster DZMM that her clients have opposed Mr. Duterte’s interim release from the start. Despite his detention, he was elected mayor by a huge margin in his home city of Davao during May’s midterm elections.