MANILA – The Philippine government will respect whatever the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) with regards to the interim release petition of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro, it is part of the strategy of Duterte’s camp and it is up to the ICC if they will grant their petition.
“Hayaan po natin ang ICC mag-determine kung sila ba ay paniniwalaan at kung maga-grant iyong kanilang request for interim release,” she said.
Duterte is seeking interim release from the ICC, assuring the chamber that he is not a flight risk and a threat to witnesses, based on the request made by his legal counsel Nicholas Kaufman dated June 12.
According to the redacted version of the request for his temporary release, Duterte’s arrest is not necessary to ensure the integrity of the investigations or to preclude the continued commission of crimes.
Duterte’s camp also assured the ICC of his “principled willingness to cooperate.”
However, Castro said that the former President seemed to have indirectly admitted to the crimes against humanity against him with their camp’s interim release petition.
“Nabasa natin na parang iki-claim po nila or ilalagay po nila sa kanilang petition that Mr. Duterte will not imperil proceedings, if released. Mr. Duterte will not continue to commit crimes. So, in one way or another, the counsel admitted that the former president had committed such crimes,” Castro said.
“Just a question because they will include that in their motion or petition. Mr. Duterte will not continue to commit crimes. So, may pag-amin ba rito?” the Palace acting spokesperson added./PN
