Update on Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC Medical Report Following Interim Release Denial
DUTERTE’S ICC MEDICAL REPORT – Nicholas Kaufman confirmed that they have received the report “but their content is confidential at present”.
Last October, the International Criminal Court or ICC junked the interim release plea of former President Rodrigo Duterte. All three (3) judges decided to deny the interim release plea of the former Chief Executive and cited him as a flight risk. The former President’s camp filed an appeal for his interim release plea.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte admitted she’s praying for the interim release of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte or his full freedom from the ICC detention. Prior to it, the Vice President claimed that a “third country” is allegedly ready to host the interim release of the former Chief Executive. She did not disclose which nation she’s referring to then.
The foreign court also required for Duterte’s ICC medical report after its interim release denial. The request of the court came after the claim of the former President’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, that his client is allegedly unfit to stand trial. It resulted to the postponement of the confirmation charges hearing against the former President.
Recently, the International Criminal Court decided on the interim release appeal. However, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte skipped the ICC interim release hearing after signing a waiver. He was represented by Nicholas Kaufman.
The ICC junked the interim release appeal of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. The foreign court denied all three (3) grounds raised by the Defense team of the former Chief Executive which are the following:
- The Pre-Trial Chamber erroneously found that Duterte poses a risk under Article 58(1)(b) of the Rome Statute
- The Pre-Trial Chamber erred in its rejection of the guarantees proposed by the State willing to receive him
- The Pre-Trial Chamber erred in law by failing to take into account humanitarian considerations in assessing the right to interim release.
The Duterte family immediately released a statement on the ICC denying the interim release appeal of the former President. According to the Duterte family, they accept the ruling of the foreign court “with peaceful hearts”.
“The family accepts the ICC Appeal Chambr’s decision with peaceful hearts. We will continue to work with the defense team on the case and will keep supporting Former President Rodrigo Duterte with our daily conversations. We thank everyone who prayed with us today,” the Dutertes said.
Then, Nicholas Kaufman claimed that they might seek for the interim release of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte again and they just await Duterte’s ICC medical report. Based on a report on GMA News, the former President’s legal team confirmed that they have received the medical report but the content is confidential as of now.
“The reports have been received, but their content is confidential at present,” Kaufman said.
Based on the report, the British-Israeli Lawyer further claimed that Duterte’s ICC medical report has been released “only to the Defence and to the Court”. The family of the former President has yet to comment on the matter.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte visited former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte inside the ICC detention facility in The Hague following the interim release ruling.