Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will remain in detention in the Netherlands after the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) unanimously rejected his appeal for interim release.
This ruling reinforces an earlier decision by ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I, which also denied Duterte’s request for temporary freedom in September.
The judgment was delivered on Friday, November 28, during an open court session presided over by Judge Luz Del Carmen Ibañez Carranza.
Duterte was represented by his lawyer, Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, during the proceedings. According to a document released by the ICC on November 27, Duterte waived his right to personally attend the reading of the Appeals Chamber’s judgment.
ICC Charges Over War on Drugs
The former chairman is facing serious charges of crimes against humanity, including murder and attempted murder, linked to his controversial anti-drug crusade that marked his time in office.
Families of suspects killed in former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs celebrate the unanimous decision by the International Criminal Court’s Appeals Chamber to deny Duterte’s appeal for interim release. pic.twitter.com/GCaexMOeWZ
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) November 28, 2025
Both his earlier requests for interim release, a critical Request and a Renewed Request, were preliminarily rejected by Pre-Trial Chamber I last September, keeping him behind bars in The Hague.
Legal experts note that these ICC proceedings are major, as they could hold a former head of state responsible for programs executed during his administration.
While the terminology is formal, the core issue resonates with ordinary citizens concerned about justice and accountability in the Philippines.
Family Seeks Duterte’s Return
Duterte’s legal struggles are not confined to The Hague. On November 18, his son, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, filed a critical suit with the Philippine Supreme Court.
The solicitation calls for nippy action on pending habeas corpus cases, potentially paving the way for the former chairman’s return to the Philippines.
For now, Duterte remains detained at the Hague Penitentiary Institution as he awaits trial. The outgrowth of the ICC charges could set a precedent in transnational law, particularly concerning state-sanctioned anti-drug operations and responsibility for contended mortal rights violations.
This case continues to draw global attention, balancing formal legal proceedings with the public’s curiosity about one of the most controversial numbers in recent Philippine history.
