Australia unwilling to host Duterte if granted interim release — official

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Australian government said it will not host former President Rodrigo Duterte if he obtains interim release from the International Criminal Court (ICC), amid speculation that Canberra has been considered a possible destination.

A diplomatic source told NewsWatch Plus that Australia is aware Duterte has applied for interim release to a third, unnamed country.

“Australia has not agreed to host Mr. Duterte if he is granted interim release, nor are we considering this,” an Australian government official told NewsWatch Plus in background.

“Mr. Duterte’s interim release is a matter for the ICC to consider in line with the Rome Statute,” the official added, in reference to the international treaty that created the court.

But in a chance interview in Davao City, the former president’s daughter and Vice President Duterte said otherwise.

“I'd like to clarify that the defense team of President Duterte never reached out to the Australian government to discuss this interim release. There is no application from former President Duterte for interim release in Australia,” she said.

“There is no intent as well to apply for interim release with the Australian government,” the vice president added.

Vice President Sara Duterte, the former president’s daughter, confirmed that Australia was among the countries considered by her father’s legal team as part of the application for interim release.

"Australia is in the list of countries that are considered by the lawyers,” she told reporters in an ambush interview while on a personal trip to Australia last weekend.

She, however, said on Friday, the list didn’t mean the defense team already applied for interim release in these countries.

However, the vice president clarified that her visit was unrelated to the ICC proceedings.

The former president is detained at an ICC facility in The Hague, Netherlands for alleged crimes against humanity for murder in connection with his administration’s bloody war on drugs. In recent weeks, his defense team filed a request for interim release, citing humanitarian grounds.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has previously said the Philippines would not cooperate with the ICC “in any form,” though recent statements from Palace officials have hinted at what they call indirect cooperation, particularly in efforts to assist victims and witnesses.

The ICC has yet to issue a decision on Duterte’s request for interim release.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report