By I. Inojales | 06:41 PM November 28, 2025
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber has denied former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bid for interim release, ordering that he remain in detention as proceedings in his crimes against humanity case progress.
In its decision, the Appeals Chamber affirmed an earlier ruling by Pre-Trial Chamber I, which held that releasing Duterte would endanger witnesses, compromise evidence, and undermine the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
The Chamber dismissed all three grounds raised by Duterte’s camp, which sought to justify his temporary release.
Duterte, who earlier waived his right to attend the reading of the judgment, will stay in ICC custody as pre-trial processes continue. He faces three counts of murder linked to 49 killings allegedly committed under his administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
Now detained for nine months at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Duterte’s legal team has insisted he is unfit to stand trial — a claim the ICC has yet to accept.
