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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lawyer denies FPRRD found unconscious, says ex-president awaiting ICC ruling on release plea

Lawyer denies FPRRD found unconscious, says ex-president awaiting ICC ruling on release plea

Published Nov 23, 2025 09:17 am  |  Updated Nov 23, 2025 01:33 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)
Nicholas Kaufman, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s lead counsel, denied reports that the ex-leader was found unconscious inside his room in the detention facility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
“I would like to state, in no uncertain terms, that the information circulating on the internet suggesting that Former President Duterte was found unconscious in his cell this morning is totally untrue,” a statement posted in Duterte vlogger Alvin & Tourism’s Facebook page said.
“I have just spoken to him and he is stoically awaiting the judgment of the ICC Appeals Chamber on the matter of interim release,” the lawyer added.
Quoting an unverified Facebook page, posts on social media recently claimed that the 80-year-old Duterte was found unconscious in his room.
Netherlands-based Filipinos, however, were quick to point out in the comments that no such report has reached them. The Filipino community regularly gathers outside the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Netherlands to call for the former president’s release.
The ICC’s Appeals Chamber, the final arbiter of decisions made by the body, is scheduled to hold a hearing for its ruling this Nov. 28 on the defense’s appeal to overturn the Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision to reject Duterte’s interim release application.
The Duterte camp is also waiting for resolutions on its appeal to reverse the pre-trial chamber’s affirmation of jurisdiction on the former leader’s case and its request to adjourn all legal proceedings because of the ex-president’s declining cognitive abilities.
The ICC has created a panel of medical experts to assess Duterte’s health condition. A report is expected by Dec. 5 on his fitness to stand trial.
The ex-leader has been in detention since March and was last seen by the public via a teleconference for his initial appearance before the court.
He is facing charges of crimes against humanity of murder for allegedly architecting the killing of thousands of mostly impoverished Filipinos under his brutal war on drugs campaign.

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Nicholas Kaufman Rodrigo Duterte interim release ICC
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