Camp of Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte Speaks on Recent ICC Decision
RODRIGO DUTERTE
– Lawyer Nicholas Kaufman revealed that they will appeal the International Criminal Court (ICC) ruling that the former President is fit for pre-trial proceedings.
Former Pres. Duterte is detained under the custody of the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands since March 2025. The controversial arrest and transfer of custody of the former Chief Executive has undeniably triggered political division in the Philippines.
On March 11, 2025, Duterte who just arrived from Hong Kong at the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
(NAIA) was arrested by the Philippine authorities who assisted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). He was detained for several hours at Villamor Air Base and was flown out of the country at night of the same day.
Previously, it was confirmed that
over 1,000 evidence against former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte have been handed over by the ICC prosecutor
to the defense team. The foreign court denied the interim release appeal of the former Chief Executive last November.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was represented by his lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, at the ICC hearing over his interim release appeal. Previously, the British-Israeli Lawyer claimed that his client is allegedly “not fit to stand trial” which led to the postponement of the confirmation of charges against him.
Duterte is faced with three (3) counts of murder as alleged “crimes against humanity” filed by the ICC prosecutors. According to the family of the former President, they accept the ruling of the interim release on the former President’s interim release plea “with open hearts”.
The Duterte siblings take turns in visiting their father inside the ICC detention facility in The Hague, Netherlands. Several Duterte supporters also often stay outside the detention facility — in the so-called Duterte Street.
Recently, the
ICC ruled that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial
. The foreign court released its ruling through a 25-page decision wherein it also denied the request of the Defense for indefinite adjournment.
“Read holistically, and in light of the cognitive abilities that Professor [REDACTED] is of the opinion that Mr. Duterte possesses, the Chamber is satisfied that Mr. Duterte does have the ability to understand the charges against him and is able to effectively exercise his procedural rights,”
the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I stated.
“The Defence will seek leave to appeal today’s decision on the grounds that Mr Duterte was denied due process,”
the British-Israeli Lawyer said.
Based on the
report
, in a separate statement, lawyer Nicholas Kaufman also claimed that the Defense team was allegedly “denied the opportunity to present its own medical evidence and to question, in court, the contradictory findings of professionals selected by the judge”.
Previously, amid his ICC detention, former Pres.
Rodrigo Duterte was able to extend his birthday message for Senator Bato dela Rosa
who is supposedly hiding now amid an alleged ICC arrest warrant.