Davao Cong. Omar Duterte Sad Over ICC Decision on his Lolo Rodrigo’s Interim Release Appeal
OMAR DUTERTE – The Davao City Congressman visited his lolo, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, after the International Criminal Court (ICC) junked his interim release plea.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is facing three (3) counts of murder as alleged “crimes against humanity” filed by the ICC prosecutor. He remains under the detention of the foreign court in The Hague, Netherlands for eight (8) months now.
Duterte’s war on drugs was controversial after it was linked to deaths. Despite his arrest and his detention, the former President claimed that he just did what he needed to do as president of the country. The former President’s camp came up with an own ICC legal team led by British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman.
Amid the ICC detention of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, his camp appealed for his interim release. However, in a decision that was reported in October, the ICC denied the interim release plea of the former President. The decision came after his daughter, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, claimed that a “third country” has supposedly agreed to host the interim release of the former Chief Executive.
It was a unanimous decision from three (3) judges who decided to deny the interim release plea of former Pres. Duterte. His camp filed for an appeal and the foreign court recently held a hearing to decide on the plea.
However, the International Criminal Court rejected the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The only family member who was in The Hague, Netherlands at the time of the ICC hearing on the former President’s interim release plea is his grandson, Davao City Congressman Omar Duterte.
Omar Duterte is the son of Davao City Cong. Paolo Duterte, the former President’s eldest son. He was with his wife and his children. Based on a report on GMA News, they immediately visited his grandfather following the ICC decision to junk his interim release plea.
Based on the report, Davao Cong. Omar Duterte revealed that they have agreed not to discuss the ICC’s decision on the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the visit. He shared that they focused on talking about family and joking around.
“Pagpasok namin, nag-agree kami na wag munang pag-usapan ‘yung kay lolo. Although alam niya today na may appeal hearing. Nag-focus na lang kami sa family, joke-joke. Pero malalaman naman niya ‘yan in the coming days,” Cong. Duterte said.
Davao Cong. Omar Duterte admitted that he’s sad over the decision of the ICC on the interim release of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. He is also confused why the foreign court considers his grandfather as a high risk.
“Ipinagtatataka ko na paano nila masabi na high risk siya na, eh kung tatayo siya sa upuan kailangan pang tulungan. Paano yun naging flight risk?” the Congressman said.
Countless Duterte supporters shed tears following the foreign court’s decision. The Duterte family released a statement on the ICC denying the interim release plea of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.