Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will remain in detention at the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Schveningen prison complex after Trial Chamber III ruled that the risks of flight and witness interference have intensified, despite defense claims of cognitive decline.
In a five-page ruling released Wednesday night, the chamber underscored that the disclosure of witness identities, extensive evidence submissions, and updated medical assessments heightened the likelihood of obstruction.
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner noted that Duterte’s capacity to influence witnesses “either directly or through his family or supporters in the Philippines” was a central concern.
The chamber emphasized that Duterte faces the prospect of a lengthy sentence if convicted of crimes against humanity, making conditional release untenable.
Court-appointed doctors found no new medical grounds to alter detention, rejecting defense arguments that his health warranted conditional liberty.
The decision affirms TC III’s earlier May ruling and follows the Pre-Trial Chamber’s confirmation of charges in April.
Under the Rome Statute, detention reviews are mandated every 120 days to assess changes in risk or circumstance. The chamber concluded that no such changes exist.
Judges also cited Duterte’s dismissal of his ICC detention as “kidnapping,” saying the remark demonstrated his unwillingness to comply with court orders if granted temporary liberty.
The ruling marks a significant step in the proceedings, as the trial moves closer to opening arguments with witness testimony and evidence now formally disclosed.# (ZIA LUNA)
