ICC Rejects Former Philippine President Duterte's Request for Release and Dismissal

Central News Message

(CNA, Amsterdam, 22nd) ICC appeals judges ruled today that the court has jurisdiction over former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, rejecting his request to terminate the proceedings and release him. Duterte is suspected of playing a key role in the "war on drugs," which led to the deaths of thousands.

Reuters reported that families of the victims warmly welcomed the ruling by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Duterte did not appear in court; he has been held by the ICC since his arrest last March.

While the Philippines officially withdrew from the ICC in 2018, leading Duterte's defense team to argue the court lacked jurisdiction, the appeals judges upheld the lower court's ruling. They stated that the case can continue and denied the 81-year-old former president's request for immediate release.

Judges pointed out that the fact the court had initiated a preliminary examination into Duterte before the Philippines' withdrawal was sufficient to maintain jurisdiction over the charges against him.

Prosecutors accuse Duterte of establishing, funding, and arming "death squads" during his term from 2016 to 2022, targeting and killing individuals suspected of drug trafficking or use.

Duterte has long maintained that he only instructed police to kill in self-defense and has consistently defended his "war on drugs." (Compiled by Hung Pei-ying) 1150422