Duterte questions objection to father’s interim release bid

Metro Manila, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte has questioned the move of International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors to oppose her father’s petition for interim release from detention in The Hague, Netherlands.

In the urgent bid for former President Rodrigo Duterte’s interim release, the prosecution argued that his continuous detention is necessary to appear in the trial, saying the accused “does not accept the legitimacy of the legal proceedings against him.”

The prosecutors noted that the former president “has maintained a network of support from powerful individuals within the Philippines” including the vice president, whom they said “made her position clear that she views her father’s detention at the court as illegitimate.”

Duterte has been claiming in public events that her father has been “kidnapped” when he was detained in March to face crimes against humanity charges for murder in relation to drug war extrajudicial killings.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, June 25, Duterte slammed the prosecution’s response.

“I do not understand why the prosecution would oppose the petition for interim release of an accused based on the statements of family members,” she said.

“It is clear that he is in court requesting for the interim release signifying that he will comply with all the obligations,” the vice president added.

Duterte said she is concerned that her father may not be granted interim release despite his age and health condition.

The former president’s legal team earlier said an undisclosed state - an ICC member - intends to take in Duterte should the request be granted.