duterte icc interim release

THE UNION of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) welcomes with profound relief and resounding affirmation the unanimous decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber to categorically reject the appeal of former Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte for interim release.

This definitive ruling not only upholds the Pre-Trial Chamber I’s earlier decision but sends an unequivocal message: Mr. Duterte must remain detained pending the confirmation of charges hearing.

The decision is a crucial and indispensable preliminary victory for the thousands of victims and survivors of the “War on Drugs” and other alleged crimes against humanity. The Appeals Chamber has delivered a judgment that prioritizes justice, safeguards the integrity of the judicial process over political maneuvering. 

The ruling irrefutably confirms the ICC’s assessment that Mr. Duterte’s continued detention is absolutely necessary to effectively mitigate the manifest and persistent risks he poses to the security of victims and potential witnesses, and to prevent the obstruction of the judicial proceedings he has historically sought to undermine.

The attempt by the Defense to secure temporary freedom, citing health and humanitarian grounds, has been rightly and firmly denied. The Appeals Chamber saw past these legal challenges, underscoring the gravity of the charges and the absolute imperative for full cooperation with international justice mechanisms. No measure of personal privilege can outweigh the security of the marginalized.

For the thousands of families who have endured years of unimaginable grief, pervasive impunity, and paralyzing fear, this decision delivers a crucial measure of assurance. No individual, regardless of their past office, political stature, or power, stands above the scrutiny of international law when alleged to have committed the most serious crimes.

The ICC must now proceed with utmost urgency and without further delay with the confirmation of charges hearing and the arrest of the other co-perpetrators alongside Duterte. Every single day of procedural delay is an extended denial of justice for victims who have waited too long.

We urge the Court to swiftly navigate the remaining procedural hurdles to ensure that a full and public trial on the merits of this historical case can commence.

This is not the end of the quest for accountability, but it is a powerful, irreversible stride forward. The denial of interim release keeps the accountability door wide open, validating the long and arduous struggle of the victims’ movement.

The UPLM stands firmly with the victims and their legal representatives, and we shall continue to fight unrelentingly until truth and full justice are finally secured.