Philippine ex-leader Duterte seeks release from ICC detention

Cliff Venzon, Bloomberg News on Jun 12, 2025

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Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has requested the International Criminal Court in The Hague for his interim release, three months after he was arrested for alleged crimes against humanity under his controversial war on drugs.

Duterte, 80, is not a flight risk and a certain government has agreed to take him in during the interim release, according to a June 12 request made by his counsel Nicholas Kaufman. Portions of the document, including the name of the country that agreed to host Duterte, were redacted.

Duterte led the Southeast Asian nation from 2016 to 2022 and oversaw a brutal anti-drug crackdown that gave him local popularity. He overwhelmingly won the race for Davao City mayor — his old post before becoming president — in last month’s election.

“Mr. Duterte will not imperil proceedings if released,” and “Mr. Duterte will not continue to commit crimes,” read the request. “Mr. Duterte is no longer the President of the Philippines, and does not command the same influence or power he is said to have abused during the period of the alleged crimes,” it added.

Duterte’s daughter, Sara Duterte, is the incumbent vice president of the Philippines and is the subject of an ongoing impeachment case. She has publicly feuded with former ally, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose administration facilitated the arrest and turnover of Duterte to the ICC in March.

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(With assistance from Andreo Calonzo.)