Metro Manila, Philippines – The International Criminal Court Appeals Chamber will issue next week its ruling on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s appeal for interim release.
The chamber will announce its decision in open court on Nov. 28 at 10:30 a.m. (5:30 p.m. Manila time).
Presiding Judge Luz del Carmen Ibañez Carranza made the scheduling order on Thursday, Nov. 20.
Duterte’s defense team has appealed the decision of the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I to reject the interim release bid and filed a renewed request.
The judges said Duterte is a flight risk, could interfere with witnesses, and might commit related crimes if released.
Interim release means temporary out of detention status of an accused detained by an international tribunal while waiting for the resolution of the case. The accused will stay in a third party ICC member.
In March, Duterte was detained in an ICC facility in The Hague, Netherlands, for crimes against humanity for murder in relation to the bloody war on drugs.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands has submitted observations on Duterte’s interim release request, according to redacted filings released in September.
Duterte is under examination by a medical panel for his fitness to stand trial after the defense camp alleged the former president was suffering from “significant cognitive deficiencies.”
This has resulted in the postponement of the confirmation of charges hearing set for September.
