The International Criminal Court on Friday rejected a request by former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte to be released from detention before the start of his trial for crimes against humanity linked to his bloody war on drugs.
Presiding judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza ruled that Duterte’s legal team failed to provide adequate safeguards to justify granting temporary release from the ICC detention facility in Scheveningen, near The Hague.
Duterte’s lawyers had appealed an earlier decision, asking for “humanitarian” parole on the grounds of the 80-year-old’s deteriorating health. But the judge said the defence’s proposed conditions were insufficient to mitigate the risks associated with his interim release, adding that the court also “rejected the defence’s argument that Mr Duterte should be released for humanitarian reasons.”
The former president, who served from 2016 to 2022, was arrested in Manila on March 11 and transferred to the ICC. Appearing frail and barely speaking during his first court appearance via video link, he faces three counts of crimes against humanity tied to thousands of killings carried out under his anti-drug campaign.
The charges include 19 murders allegedly committed between 2013 and 2016, when Duterte was mayor of Davao City; 14 killings of suspected drug bosses in 2016 and 2017 during his presidency; and 43 deaths of low-level drug users and dealers. In October, the court rejected Duterte’s claim that the ICC lacked jurisdiction over his case.
A spokesperson for Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government “respects” the court’s ruling. Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte, currently serves as vice president.
Human rights activists welcomed the decision, calling it a long-awaited step toward accountability. Families of victims gathered at a Manila university to watch the hearing via livestream, erupting into cheers once the ruling was announced.
“We really prayed for Duterte not to be granted an interim release,” said Dahlia Cuartero, whose son Jesus—killed during the drug war—would have turned 33 on Saturday. “This is the best birthday gift for him.”
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