Rodrigo Duterte camp appeals ICC jurisdiction ruling

The camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to reverse its ruling that affirmed the tribunal’s jurisdiction over him. 

In a four-page notice of appeal dated October 28, Duterte’s team asked the Appeals Chamber to reverse the decision and find that there exists no legal basis for the continuation of the proceedings against the former president.

His camp also asked the chamber to order his immediate and unconditional release.

This came after the Pre-Trial Chamber rejected the challenge to its jurisdiction by the defense counsel of Duterte. It also rejected the defense's request to postpone the issuance of its decision on the challenge to its jurisdiction.

The ICC Prosecutor has charged Duterte with 49 incidents of murder and attempted murder during his time as mayor of Davao City and as President of the Philippines, "although the actual scale of victimization during the charged period was significantly greater."

He is currently detained at the Hague Penitentiary Institution.

Based on government records, around 6,200 drug suspects were killed during the Duterte administration's anti-drug operations. Human rights organizations, however, said the number may reach 30,000 due to the unreported related slays.—AOL, GMA Integrated News