The camp representing drug war victims is prepared to block any petition by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense panel seeking his interim release from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Interim release refers to the temporary freedom of an accused individual while the case is pending, subject to specific conditions set by the court.
According to Atty. Gilbert Andres, one of the lawyers representing drug war victims, they are ready to present their concerns to the court and request the dismissal of Duterte’s petition if it is filed.
ICC assistant to counsel Atty. Kristina Conti supported this stance, stating that they will oppose the motion as it contradicts the interests of the victims, given that the former president himself poses a threat.
The drug war victims’ legal team issued this statement following an announcement by Duterte’s defense lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, confirming plans to submit a petition for interim release.
Duterte is currently in ICC custody after being arrested under a warrant issued by the tribunal on March 11.
He is set to appear before the international tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, on September 23 for the confirmation of charges related to alleged crimes against humanity stemming from extrajudicial killings during his administration’s war on drugs.