THE legal team of former president Rodrigo Duterte has renewed its request for his interim release to an undisclosed country subject to “any conditions deemed appropriate” by the International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber 1 which is handling his crimes against humanity case.
The pre-trial chamber has earlier agreed to suspend the adjudication of the request for interim release filed by defense lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman “until such time as the defense has assembled all information necessary” to support their plea.
Kaufman has told the court said that they have faced considerable administrative hurdle in obtaining information necessary to present a complete and properly substantiated picture of the country willing to host Duterte.
Kaufman revived the defense’ request in a heavily redacted filing dated August 19, 2025.
“For the sake of clarity, the Defense informs the Pre-Trial Chamber that the (redacted) continues to affirm its willingness to cooperate with the Court, to accept Mr. Duterte onto its territory, and to enforce conditions of release,” the 8-page filing stated.
“All the Prosecution’s objections to the (redacted) serving as a receiving country for purposes of interim release are either negligible or negotiable,” it added.
The defense team also said that the continued detention of the 80-year-old former president during this “protracted process” is “not fair or reasonable,” especially since the prosecution is expected to again challenge their latest filing.
“As such, the Defense renews and reiterates its request that the Pre-Trial Chamber order Mr. Duterte’s immediate release into (redacted), subject to any conditions deemed appropriate,” it said.
Duterte is set to appear before the Pre-Trial Chamber 1 on September 23 for the confirmation hearing of the charges against him.
In asking the chamber for interim release, Duterte’s camp has assured the chamber that he is not a flight risk and that an undisclosed country has agreed in principle to temporarily host him.
They also cited humanitarian consideration, citing his age.
In June, the Australian government ruled out hosting Duterte if the ICC grants his petition for interim release after Vice President Sara Duterte said in a media interview in Melbourne that Australia is on the list of countries that they were considering to host her father.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has previously expressed belief that the Duterte camp is seeking a country in South America to host him if the ICC agrees to release him temporarily.
