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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte camp mulls ICC release to Netherlands, other undisclosed country

Duterte camp mulls ICC release to Netherlands, other undisclosed country

Published Sep 15, 2025 02:53 pm
Former president Rodrigo Duterte and his lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman (Screengrab from ICC, ABS-CBN News videos)
Former president Rodrigo Duterte and his lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman (Screengrab from ICC, ABS-CBN News videos)
The camp of former president Rodrigo Duterte is studying the possibility of being released temporarily in the Netherlands, the host country of the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he has been detained since March this year for charges of crimes against humanity of murder.

In a five-page document made public on Sept. 10, defense lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman sought that the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I (PTC I) orders the Registry to invite the Netherlands “to make its observations on the possibility of accommodating Mr. Duterte for the term of his interim release.”

“The Defence for Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte hereby respectfully requests that the Pre-Trial Chamber seek observations from the Host State, not just on transit through its territory but, also, on the possibility of accommodating Mr Duterte on its territory for the partial or, potentially, the full term of his interim release if so ordered,” the document read, adding that the camp will continue to seek interim release to another chosen country.

While the defense had not received a response from the Netherlands, it allied fears and claimed that the former president will not seek asylum in the Netherlands and that the “defense would cover any costs expended by the Host State in enforcing the terms and conditions ordered by the Pre-Trial Chamber.”

Kaufman first filed for an interim release request for Duterte on June 12, saying that an undisclosed country already agreed to enforce possible conditions that will be set by the Court should it agree to approve the request.

But the prosecution strongly opposed the release to the defense’s chosen country, and pointed out the necessity of keeping Duterte in detention.

Since then, the former president’s camp has reiterated its request for an interim release and filed a request for indefinite adjournment, citing Duterte’s “deteriorating cognitive condition.”

The prosecution has since opposed these requests, too, amid the pre-trial court’s decision to postpone the confirmation of charges originally set on Sept. 23.

Duterte has been detained in The Hague since March after being extradited there via a government-chartered plane. He’s facing the crimes against humanity of murder charges in relation to his bloody war on drugs campaign.

Related Tags

interim release Rodrigo Duterte Nicholas Kaufman ICC Netherlands
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