ICC prosecutor, victims oppose Duterte camp's notification on interim release

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor has asked the tribunal's Pre-Trial Chamber I to dismiss the recent submissions of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s camp for supposedly being irrelevant to its determination on interim release.

"The Prosecution submits that the Defence Notification, in which Mr. Duterte offers [REDACTED], is irrelevant to the issue of whether he should be granted interim release," Deputy Prosecutor Mame Niang said in a 5-page redacted response dated September 18.

Niang said the prosecution has demonstrated that Duterte would be a flight risk, is likely to interfere with the proceedings, and may commit further crimes.

According to Niang, Duterte's undisclosed offer does not lessen the risk he presents.

He also said this is likely to further delay the proceedings. 

"For the above reasons, the Prosecution respectfully requests that the Chamber find that the submissions within the Defence's Notification are irrelevant to its determination on interim release," he said.

The ICC Prosecutor has charged Duterte with murder and frustrated murder over 49 incidents in his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and as President of the Philippines.

In August, the former president reiterated his request to the ICC for an interim release to an undisclosed country "subject to any conditions deemed appropriate."

Meanwhile, in a separate filing, the Office of Public Counsel for Victims said the notification filed by Duterte's camp is procedurally improper.

"[I]t does not notify, but in effect substantively supplements its earlier requests for interim release, now the third of its kind," it said.

The Office also requested the Chamber to reject the requests in the notification.

Meanwhile, in another submission, Duterte's defense team told The Hague-based tribunal that a medical professional appointed by the ICC Detention Centre's Medical Officer found that the former president has cognitive impairment.

The ICC Prosecutor had previously asked to have its own medical expert assess Duterte's health.

Duterte's confirmation of charges hearing, initially scheduled on September 23, has been postponed. — VDV, GMA Integrated News