August 22, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — After initially asking pre-trial judges of the Worldwide Felony Court docket to defer ruling on the difficulty, the protection crew of former president Rodrigo Duterte now desires the ICC to instantly launch the previous president to an undisclosed nation.
Protection lawyer Nicholas Kaufman filed on Aug. 18 a “renewed request for interim launch” of the previous president. An eight-page copy was made accessible to the general public on Wednesday evening.
The general public doc was closely redacted, however some particulars indicated Kaufman’s reiteration of his assurance that Duterte won’t be a flight danger and that he won’t intervene with witnesses or commit crimes.
He additionally instructed the nation that the undisclosed authorities talked about within the preliminary request for interim request “continues to affirm its willingness to cooperate with the Court docket, to just accept Mr. Duterte onto its territory, and to implement circumstances of launch.”
The protection stated the prosecution’s objections to Duterte’s interim launch “are both negligible or negotiable.”
“Mr. Duterte’s presence at affirmation proceedings could also be waived however, if needed, could equally be ensured by the use of videoconferencing,” Kaufman added.
The prosecution and victims’ counsel earlier opposed the request, citing the chance for the safety and security of witnesses.
ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang additionally objected to the discharge to the nation proposed by Duterte’s camp, saying it “just isn’t an acceptable state to host” the previous president because it “doesn’t have the identical intensive historical past of cooperation with the Court docket.”
Final month, Kaufman urged the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I to defer ruling on interim request to permit the protection “to assemble all needed data” concerning the pleading.
The judges dominated by a majority in favor of the request to droop ruling.
Duterte desires all 4 youngsters to go to
Vice President Sara Duterte is now in The Hague, Netherlands to go to her father, amid his upcoming affirmation of fees listening to on Sept. 23.
The Vice President’s journey to The Hague is her fourth go to since her father was arrested and turned over to the ICC on March 11. She traveled to Kuwait on Aug. 15, proceeded to Paris, France on Aug. 18 earlier than touring to The Hague.
In an interview posted by former presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Fb, Duterte’s youngest daughter, Veronica, popularly generally known as Kitty, confirmed that she visited her father, along with the Vice President.
“Sure, I used to be with VP right now. Truly, it was a really cheerful and energetic go to… as a result of, in fact, my father and the women. Truly, as we entered the room, he was already there. He was early right now, perhaps as a result of he knew that the 2 of us have been going to go to,” Kitty stated.
“Once we entered, he was already there. I shouted, ‘Dada Rudy’ Then, when he rotated, he smiled. Then, in fact, we kissed. We hugged. Then, he stated, ‘my little women.’ So, that’s what he known as us… So, right now, the dialog was a bit lengthy,” Kitty added.
Kitty stated that the previous president wished his 4 youngsters, the Vice President, Davao Metropolis Rep. Paolo Duterte, performing Davao Metropolis Mayor Sebastian Duterte and her to all be current when visiting him.
Kitty stated that there’s nonetheless no ultimate date for the go to of all of the Duterte siblings in The Hague. “We’re ready on the schedule of Cong. Pulong and Vice Mayor Baste as of now. Truly, every thing was type of rushed, so we’re nonetheless arranging it, however I feel it’s both by the top of the month or subsequent month, the 4 of us will go collectively as a result of that’s the particular request,”she added.
Kitty stated that she just isn’t but certain whether or not Vice President Duterte can be current in the course of the affirmation of fees of their father.
“However she is, I feel out of her schedule,” she stated.
Kitty stated after they visited, the humor of the previous president returned.
“He was even joking round as a result of there was a microphone there. He was enjoying with it. He was speaking to whoever was monitoring it. So, yeah, it was a really cheerful go to right now. He was instructing my sister and I about his recommendation to us,” she stated, including that the previous president additionally thanked his supporters for his or her unwavering assist to him.
Kitty stated that the previous president is consuming properly regardless of being skinny. – Bella Cariaso
