Duterte camp seeks reversal of ICC ruling on continued detention

The camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte has filed a notice with the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber seeking the reversal of a chamber’s decision on Duterte’s continued detention.

In a six-page document dated January 28, Duterte’s team requested Duterte’s immediate interim release under the conditions provided by a state party.

They argued that the Pre-Trial Chamber I committed an error of law and fact when it did not consider the medical report provided by the former president's team.

“[I]t speaks directly to Mr. Duterte’s deteriorating health and compromised cognitive condition, a factor that the Pre-Trial Chamber was obliged to consider in its periodic review of Mr. Duterte’s detention,” it said.

“In refusing to consider the Report, the Pre-Trial Chamber failed in its duty to assess whether there exist changed circumstance that would, in turn, affect the necessity of detention,” it added.

On January 26, the Pre-Trial Chamber I found that there are still reasonable grounds to believe that Duterte has committed crimes within the court’s jurisdiction. 

On the same day, the Chamber also found that Duterte was fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings in the crimes against humanity charges over the deaths blamed on his war on drugs when he was President and mayor of Davao City.

The ICC also denied his request for indefinite adjournment.

It scheduled the commencement of the confirmation of charges hearing on February 23, 2026.

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