“Duterte Denied Release on Medical Grounds by ICC”

Former President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, facing charges of crimes against humanity, will not be released from custody following the International Criminal Court’s denial of a request from his legal team for his release on medical grounds. The ICC judges determined that Duterte’s potential to flee and tamper with witnesses if set free outweighed any health issues he may be experiencing at the age of 80. In a statement dated October 10, the ICC stated that Duterte’s detention remains essential. The charges against Duterte include three counts of crimes against humanity, accusing him of being connected to 76 murders as part of his anti-drug campaign. The first set of charges involves 19 murders allegedly committed while Duterte was mayor of Davao City between 2013 and 2016. The second set pertains to 14 murders of “High Value Targets” during his presidency in 2016 and 2017. The third charge is related to 43 killings during drug operations targeting lower-level suspects across the Philippines from 2016 to 2018. Duterte was apprehended in Manila on March 11, swiftly transported to the Netherlands, and has been detained at the ICC’s facility in Scheveningen Prison ever since.