Manila, Philippines – Former President Rodrigo Duterte will remain in detention, after the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber upheld Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision on rejecting his interim release request.
In a ruling on Friday, Nov. 28 the Appeals chamber unanimously rejected the grounds presented by the defense appealing the reversal of the decision on former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s continued detention.
In September, ICC Pre Trial Chamber I rejected the two interim release requests submitted by FPRRD’s camp.
In the decision, the Court argued that Duterte must remain in detention as his release may pose a risk and threat to the witnesses of the case, given his family and political influence.
According to the Appeals Chamber, the defense failed to justify the grounds they appealed for Duterte’s release.
Duterte was not present in the ruling after he waived his presence, and was represented by his lead defense counsel Atty. Nicholas Kaufman.
March of the present year when Duterte was arrested and detained for crimes against humanity charges over alleged extra judicial killings linked with his administration’s war on drugs campaign.